Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the influence of winger Antonio Valencia in their victory over West Ham United.

United's attack combined to score three eye-catching goals against the Hammers, with Wayne Rooney's pair of headers preceding a clinical late third goal from substitute Michael Owen.

"It (the first) was a great, exciting goal," Ferguson told MUTV. "It was a great crossfield pass, a first-time delivery from Valencia and a marvellous header from Wayne. Then Valencia played a great one-two with Dimitar and it was a marvellous cross and a good finish from Wayne.

"Then Michael did what he always does. He makes great runs between defenders. It was a nice bit of football and a really good finish. We could have scored a lot of goals in the second half."