Manchester United have started 2017 as they ended 2016, in winning form.

The Red Devils comfortably brushed West Ham aside with two second half goals that mean United have now won their last six Premier League matches in a row. Only Chelsea are in better form right now.

Can they continue winning? With three home games on the horizon in three different competitions, culminating in a huge match vs. Liverpool, it's a hugely important time for the Old Trafford side.

It was a hard fought victory for United at the London Stadium, despite having a man advantage for the vast majority of the game. Sofiane Feghouli was sent off in the fifteenth minute, a decision that looked like a harsh one from referee Mike Dean.

Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic eventually found the cutting edge in the second half to give Mourinho's side the three points and to take another step towards a top 4 position.

Here are FIVE pictures from the 2-0 win that summed up the action...

Feghouli exits early

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League - London Stadium - 2/1/17 West Ham United's Sofiane Feghouli gestures after fouling Manchester United's Phil Jones and is later sent off Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player pu

Sofiane Feghouli was rather harshly sent off for a collision with Phil Jones in the fifteenth minute. Mike Dean bemused most of the stadium and most of the viewers at home with the decision, which arguably ruined the match as a spectacle, the Irons then forced into playing a more defensive game.

He looked dejected leaving the pitch and rightly so. The red card defined the game in many ways. Who knows how it might've turned out had it be 11 vs. 11 for longer than 15 minutes?

Saving the day

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League - London Stadium - 2/1/17 Manchester United's David De Gea saves a shot from West Ham United's Michail Antonio  Reuters / Eddie Keogh Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account rep

David de Gea didn't have much to do across the 90 minutes but when called into action he made a fine stop.

It was Michail Antonio who raced through to a one-on-one with the Spanish 'keeper. De Gea stood tall and blocked the shot with his midriff.

The save came at a key moment in the game with United beginning to look frustrated and West Ham sensing they may be able to steal a victory.

It was also seconds before what happened next...

Mata's massive impact

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League - London Stadium - 2/1/17 Manchester United's Juan Mata celebrates scoring with Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a fan invades the pitch Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Juan Mata came on at half-time for Darmian, Mourinho putting more attacking talent on the pitch to exploit the man advantage. He sensed that the Hammers would prove tough to break down and with United dominating possession took the risk to stick Mata on.

It's a switch that paid dividends when he latched onto Marcus Rashford's, another substitute, pass to fire past Randolph to finally break the deadlock.

It was his first goal since October and as you can see, it left him delighted.

It's always Zlatan

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League - London Stadium - 2/1/17 Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account represe

Zlatan is in monstrous form and gave United the vital 2-0 cushion with an excellent finish in the 78th minute. It may have been a nervy last 10 minutes had he not stepped up.

Incredibly, it was his 17th goal of the season and in this form his total could end up reaching as high as 30 for the year.

There were suspicions of offside, another stroke of luck on the evening for the Red Devils, but he stayed calm and collected and fired it home with typical flair.

Mourinho's mastery

Britain Football Soccer - West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League - London Stadium - 2/1/17 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho celebrates Reuters / Eddie Keogh Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

As noted, it was Mourinho's changes to the game that won it for United and he looked delighted at the end with the win. The turnaround United have taken over the last 6 or so weeks has been impressive and they are well place to have an excellent second half of the season.

The next 2 weeks will go a long way to determining how successful their season is with an FA Cup match, a League Cup semi-final and massive game against fellow top 4 contenders and fierce rivals Liverpool.

If they can come through unscathed, United fans will be celebrating Mourinho's name in a way they haven't with any manager since Ferguson's retirement.