Manchester United slipped up at home again as Soungoutou Magassa’s late goal earned West Ham a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The three points that would have lifted Ruben Amorim’s side to fifth looked to be theirs when Diogo Dalot finished smartly just before the hour, but United failed to see it through and Magassa’s neat finish allowed West Ham to claim a point.
United, who lost at home to 10-man Everton in their previous home fixture, do move above Liverpool into eighth, but this was a missed opportunity. Nuno Espirito Santo will take the point; his side remain among the bottom three but are only two points from safety.
West Ham, who have picked up eight points from their last five games under Nuno, showed attacking intent in the first 30 minutes, with Casemiro sliding in to block Matheus Fernandes’ low shot. United pushed thereafter. Alphonse Areola tipped over Bryan Mbeumo’s cross-shot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line from Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes’ follow-up shaved the post. United finished the first half with a season-high 25 touches in the opposition box.
Ayden Heaven, making his first start since the Grimsby debacle, was withdrawn at half-time after an early booking, but Amorim kept his 3-4-3 structure. Wandering into the box unmarked, the ball fell kindly to Dalot and the Portuguese defender slammed it into the net to lift the mood inside Old Trafford. But United’s inability to capitalise highlighted recurring frustration.
Andy Irving swung in a corner with his first touch after coming on; Jarrod Bowen won the flick-on ahead of Fernandes and though Noussair Mazraoui cleared off the line, Magassa slotted away the rebound. West Ham even threatened to score a winner late on.
Player ratings:
Man Utd: Lammens 6, Mazraoui 7, Heaven 6, Shaw 7, Amad 7, Casemiro 7, Fernandes 6, Dalot 7, Cunha 6, Mbeumo 6, Zirkzee 6. Subs: Yoro 6, Dorgu 6, Mount n/a, Ugarte n/a, Martinez n/a.
West Ham: Areola 6, Wan-Bissaka 8, Todibo 7, Mavropanos 7, Diouf 7, Potts 7, Magassa 8, Fernandes 6, Soucek 6, Bowen 7, Wilson 6. Subs: Irving n/a, Kante n/a, Kilman n/a.
Player of the Match: Soungoutou Magassa.
Since Nuno’s first game in charge, only Aston Villa (9) have won more Premier League points from losing positions than West Ham (8). They do not look like a side destined for relegation under Nuno. Where Amorim’s United find themselves is less clear: Champions League qualification is a possibility, but not with this sloppiness.
Roy Keane on Sky Sports:
“The last three or four games, that sums them up. Not quite doing enough. Where is the frustration with this group of players? I’ve watched the games closely. The lack of quality and intensity. They got two goals against Palace but they defended like a pub team. Tonight, you give United praise before the game and they can go fifth. This team is not ready to go fifth. They’ve got Wolves next, they are one of the worst teams I’ve ever seen in the Premier League. I don’t get how the players or manager don’t sense it. They have to do better than that.”
Ruben Amorim on Sky Sports:
“We had good moments and we lost a little bit of control after the goal. We should have closed the game when we scored the first one. The game was in control, we knew it. Any set pieces can be a problem. We couldn’t maintain the ball after the goal. Losing second balls, running with the ball, they were winning the first ball. We can control that kind of game. We should be better with the ball after the first goal. The characteristics with the players inside the box were sometimes not enough.”
Nuno Espirito Santo on Sky Sports:
“It’s important because it’s a tough place to come. We are proud that we achieved something. It could have been three [points]. We are trying to build urgency with results, looking for a better performance. I thought all the game, especially second half, we created many problems for Man Utd.”
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