Manchester United drop points again after West Ham fight back for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, leaving the Red Devils eighth in the Premier League.
MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s inability to defend a lead cost them a place in the Premier League’s top five on Thursday.
Lowly West Ham United hit back to salvage a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, extending United’s run of dropped points from promising positions.
Diogo Dalot’s first league goal in 19 months put Ruben Amorim’s men in front just before the hour mark.
The hosts failed to see the game out, however, as Soungoutou Magassa equalised to secure a vital point in West Ham’s relegation battle.
United have only lost once in their last eight games but have repeatedly squandered leads.
The Red Devils now sit eighth, just two points off the top four but ruing more missed opportunities.
Amorim welcomed back Matheus Cunha from injury to bolster the attack, but United lacked invention against a well-organised West Ham defence.
Joshua Zirkzee, who ended a year-long goal drought last weekend, was again ineffective as the focal point in attack.
The Dutchman came closest in the first half, improvising to thigh a cross goalwards, only for Aaron Wan-Bissaka to clear off the line.
Bruno Fernandes then clipped the outside of the post with an audacious volley from the rebound.
West Ham, shorn of Lucas Paqueta after his red card against Liverpool, relied heavily on Jarrod Bowen’s creativity.
Bowen nearly produced a goal from nothing with a jinking run before United finally broke through.
Dalot, criticised by Amorim last week, responded by controlling a deflected Casemiro effort and sweeping home.
United failed to build on their advantage, allowing West Ham to hit back.
Bowen won a corner and flicked Andy Irvine’s delivery goalwards, leading to a scramble.
Noussair Mazraoui cleared off the line, but the ball fell perfectly for Magassa to slot home his first English goal.
Fernandes had two late chances to win it in stoppage time but blasted both efforts well over the bar.
The draw edges West Ham to within two points of safety as their upturn under Nuno Espirito Santo continues. – AFP
