Ole Gunnar Solskjaer avoided an unwanted record as Manchester United defeated West Ham 2-1 on Saturday.

Defeat for the Red Devils would have resulted in their fifth defeat in six matches and their worst run for 27 years.

But Paul Pogba’s brace from the penalty spot ensured that Solskjaer avoided that statistic.

The honeymoon period appears to be over for the Norwegian after he won 10 of his first 11 matches in charge, but United’s hopes of finishing in the top four remain alive.

They are fifth in the table and locked in a fierce battle with Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal for the Champions League qualifying spots.

And Solskjaer is doing it all while inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former Cardiff boss has regularly spoken of his admiration for Ferguson, admitting that he has called on the Scot for advice since taking charge.

Solskjaer refuses to take Fergie's old spot

The respect is clear - Solskjaer still refers to the 77-year-old as ‘gaffer’.

And it extends to the point where Solskjaer even refuses to park his car in the manager’s spot at United’s Carrington training base - because he believes it still belongs to Fergie.

According to The Sun, the United boss doesn’t feel it is right to park in Ferguson’s old spot and instead takes a spot among the club’s staff.

He has apparently told staff: “It just doesn’t feel right parking there. It’s still the gaffer’s (Fergie) place.”

Solskjaer is entitled to use the spot that David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho occupied in their brief stints in charge.

But United staff are still waiting for him to take it.

“Sir Alex had his own spot. It’s a busy car park and we have been waiting for Ole to claim dibs on the bay after he started driving himself in,” a club insider said.

“Ole is in before most of the staff but he is just as unassuming as we remember him.”

Solskjaer has also stuck with his grey Volvo XC40, despite being allowed a club car from sponsors Chevrolet.