Daley Blind's equaliser
deep into stoppage time earned United a deserved point at West Ham
after Cheikhou Kouyate's superb volley had put the Hammers ahead.
A win would have taken
us to within three points of stuttering City but in the end a point
each was a fair result as United stay fourth, one point behind third
placed Southampton.
Kouyate juggled the
ball twice, swivelled, and volleyed in after Mark Noble's free-kick
deflected into his path.
United had looked to be
heading for defeat only for Blind to lash home a volley from 16 yards from
an Angel Di Maria cross.
The visitors finished
with 10 men, left-back Luke Shaw having been sent off for a second
bookable offence.
West Ham were fast out
of the traps and United were indebted to man of the match David De
Gea who twice kept out Enner Valencia- one a 25-yard drive and the
other an acrobatic flick from close range- before the Spaniard denied James
Tomkins with an outstretched boot.
Robin van Persie went
close after a mistake from Tomkins but United struggled to
carve out chances with the creative talents of Juan Mata and Ander
Herrera on the bench.
West Ham got the
breakthrough their play deserved four minutes after half-time,
Kouyate showing great skill to volley in the loose ball from a Noble
free-kick.
Noble was denied a
potentially match-sealing second by another smart save from De Gea,
but United came on strong as the clock ticked down.
Radamel Falcao looked
certain to equalise 13 minutes from time after combining with Robin
van Persie, but the Colombian striker stabbed wide under pressure
from Tomkins.
Van Persie was then
denied by Adrian's right leg before the hosts' keeper scrambled
across his line to keep out substitute Marouane Fellaini in a frantic
finish.
That seemed to be the
last chance for United- but Blind had other ideas as he volleyed in
from 18 yards following good work down the right from Di Maria.
United sensed a winner
but a dramatic finish had another late twist as Shaw was, somewhat
harshly, dismissed for his second yellow card.
A point apiece was
ultimately a fair result and it will be Louis van Gaal's side that
will be the happier with a draw that has to be seen as a point gained
following the late drama.
United Faithful man of
the match: David de Gea
Overall Team Performance: 7/10
Overall Team Performance: 7/10
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