Ole Gunnar Solskjaer showers Jesse Lingard with praise after the midfielder’s ‘zero-to-hero’ week

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has heaped praise on match-winner Jesse Lingard for bouncing back to silence old club West Ham just days after his error at Young Boys cost Manchester United a point in the Europa League.

Lingard came on for Cristiano Ronaldo in Bern, with his pass deep into stoppage time intended for David de Gea cut out by Jordan Siebatcheu, who slotted home. 

The 28-year-old started on the bench again today at the ground where he was so impressive last season, as he came on for Paul Pogba this time on 73 minutes. 

Jesse Lingard was devastated after his awful pass saw Manchester United lose to Young Boys

However, the man on loan at West Ham last season responded emphatically three days later

The 28-year-old fashioned some space before curling a stunning strike past Lukasz Fabianski

The game looked like it could be heading for a draw before Lingard dribbled into the box, worked a yard of space and then curled a brilliant effort beyond Lukasz Fabianski into the Pole’s top left-hand corner to break the hearts of the home faithful.

It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after his struggles in Switzerland, with Solskjaer delighted with the Englishman’s contribution, saying: ‘You have to learn to live with the highs and the lows. 

‘He said sorry after Tuesday and everyone said that’s not necessary. He came on [today] and was brilliant. 

‘It was a great goal. I’m so happy for Jesse. Of course, he had a tough evening on Tuesday, but he’s knuckled down and has worked hard again. 

‘He’s been the same bright, positive lad, and what a goal. So happy for him. It was a great pass from Nemanja [Matic] and a good turn by Jesse.

‘[It was] a great response to their goal. I thought we played some very good football first half, but then we need to defend better.’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Lingard for knuckling down after his error and taking his chance

Solskjaer said the Hammers were right to get a last-gasp penalty – which Mark Noble missed

It seemed as if Lingard’s goal would be the last decisive moment of the match, but VAR put a stop to that notion when Martin Atkinson went to the monitor before awarding the Hammers a penalty in the dying seconds after Luke Shaw had raised his left arm and handled Andriy Yarmolenko’s point-blank cross.

Mark Noble was brought on to take the spot-kick, but the club captain and set-piece specialist saw his effort tipped away excellently by David de Gea, who was mobbed by his team-mates at the full-time whistle.

‘The handball is probably right, he was making himself bigger,’ Solskjaer admitted. ‘If you clip the ball into someone’s hands and they’re right there, it’s difficult. 

‘David de Gea made the right call. If he scores it’s genius [to bring Noble on] and when David saves, it’s the wrong call.’ 

De Gea had failed to save his previous 41 spot-kicks faced before palming away Noble’s effort

Solskjaer did feel though that Ronaldo deserved a couple of penalties at the London Stadium

Solskjaer felt that Ronaldo should have been given two penalties of his own after tangles with Kurt Zouma and Vladimir Coufal, but Atkinson waved away the 36-year-old’s vociferous protests on both occasions – although neither incident was deemed worthy of a booking for diving.

‘We had two stonewall penalties, clear as day. I’m just hoping it’s one of them where Cristiano Ronaldo never wins a penalty,’ the United boss said.

The two teams don’t have much time to recover before they meet again – their next clash is at Old Trafford on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup.