Benjamin Sesko found the net deep into stoppage time to ensure Michael Carrick’s unbeaten beginning as Manchester United’s caretaker boss stayed intact, while West Ham United were denied a vital success in their struggle near the bottom of the table.
Benjamin Sesko found the net deep into stoppage time to ensure Michael Carrick’s unbeaten beginning as Manchester United’s caretaker boss stayed intact, while West Ham United were denied a vital success in their struggle near the bottom of the table.
Carrick had overseen four straight victories since stepping into the role, something his predecessor Ruben Amorim failed to manage, but that perfect sequence ended on a rain-soaked evening in east London.
Even so, the interim coach will welcome the draw after Tomas Soucek’s effort shortly after halftime appeared to have set Nuno Espirito Santo’s team on course for a fourth triumph in five league outings.
Sesko, introduced from the bench as United searched for inspiration during an underwhelming display, made the decisive impact by firing high past Mads Hermansen with only seconds left on the clock.
The opening 45 minutes offered little fluency, with the visitors’ clearest opportunity arriving when Aaron Wan-Bissaka hacked Luke Shaw’s close-range attempt off the line following a cleverly worked corner.
The deadlock was broken five minutes after the restart as Shaw lost out in a duel, allowing Soucek to slip away from Kobbie Mainoo and guide a finish inside the near post.
United believed they had replied almost immediately through Casemiro, but the Brazilian midfielder had moved beyond the defensive line before heading in, ruling out the goal.
As the match wore on, Carrick opted for a bold approach. Diogo Dalot was withdrawn, Joshua Zirkzee came on in a more advanced role, and the back three was restored to free Bruno Fernandes.
West Ham squandered several chances to seal the contest, and their failure proved costly when Sesko met Bryan Mbeumo’s delivery in the sixth minute of added time to snatch a point.
For long spells, the home side looked set to claim a priceless victory that would have drawn them level with Nottingham Forest and increased pressure on Sean Dyche’s men ahead of their upcoming clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Instead, the late setback left players and supporters deflated after a display that otherwise underlined recent progress.
Crysencio Summerville again posed problems out wide, while Soucek’s contribution was typical of his strengths, arriving late to convert Jarrod Bowen’s cross.
Defensively, West Ham remained compact and disciplined, still carrying a threat on the counterattack despite sustained pressure from United.
There was plenty to encourage Nuno going forward, yet conceding in the final moments ensured this result will linger as a painful missed opportunity.
