Manchester United weren’t at their best at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, but secured a 2-1 win thanks to a pair of penalties from Paul Pogba.
Pogba netted his first after Juan Mata was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.
Felipe Anderson drew West Ham level in the second half and it was the visitors who looked more likely to go on and win the Premier League clash.
But, roared on by the Old Trafford faithful, United went back ahead when Pogba converted after Anthony Martial was brought down.
And come the full time whistle, Solskjaer made sure he applauded the most vocal sections of Old Trafford, with their support helping his side to a crucial win.
Match-winner Pogba admitted his side needed a slice of luck to beat Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham.
He said: “It was really open but we didn’t play well.
“With the chances and space we had, maybe we played too slow. We will have to fix that, we learn from that and focus on next one
“I can’t explain if we are tired from the Champions League game but we have to rest now for Tuesday.”
“What matters [from the penalties] is to put the ball inside that’s all, maybe I tricked the keeper but all that is important is the three points today.
“I think we had the luck, you always have to take it, sometime it is for the other team but we took it today.”
And Solskjaer also knew his side weren’t at the races.
He said: “We got away with it. I know it is not easy because we played on Wednesday and we made a few changes.
“They deserved to get their goals but we are allowed to have a good goalkeeper.
“Of course, we have a game on Tuesday night too which may have played on the player’s minds, but I’m not sure why we played last Wednesday and then we play next Tuesday. That is my little complaint to Uefa.
“There have been two games away recently where we have played well and not got what we deserved but the last two games at home against Watford and West Ham we probably got what we didn’t deserve, so it evens itself out over the season.”