West Ham 1 Man United 1
Carrick’s winning run comes to an end. This was always going to be a tough game for United coming to a stadium they have bad history with and playing against one of the form sides in the league who weren’t going to make it easy and that’s exactly what happened. The first half was a diabolical watch, the match basically played at walking pace with neither team really showing any quality at all in the attack with West Ham sitting back in a low block and countering whenever they got the chance, the half was so boring that there was no added time at all as nothing happened. Something had to give in the second half and it took just 5 minutes for Tomas Soucek to open the score after a couple of errors from Luke Shaw in the midfield. United had a goal then ruled out for offside by about a hairs length and Carrick started throwing on attackers to try and get the equaliser which opened the game up massively giving West Ham chance after chance on the counter to finish the game which they didn’t take, then out of nowhere a nothing cross from Mbeumo ends up being turned home outrageously by Benjamin Sesko to give United a point on the day.
Heartbreak at the end for West Ham. Nuno’s game plan nearly worked to perfection with West Ham taking the lead in the second half which allowed them to sit back and counter with United trying to break them down throwing on more more attackers in the second half. West Ham had to finish the game off with those counter attacks but you have to give credit to Leny Yoro who made some unbelievable interceptions and tackles to keep the game at 1-0. Zirkzee went close from a header a couple of minutes before Benjamin Sesko scored an unbelievable equaliser on the volley. West Ham are still 2 points from safety but that could stretch to 5 points if Nottingham Forest beat Wolves tomorrow, regardless West Ham are in really good form at the minute and if they can keep up their current performances they still have a good chance of staying up.
Surely it’s time for Benjamin Sesko to be starting for United. You might think it’s hindsight talking but after the Fulham game I did ask for Carrick to start playing Sesko from the off and he really should have done it tonight, the attack for United was awful for the full game, Mbeumo, Cunha, Amad and Fernandes were all miles off the pace and we really needed that focal point up front to try and cross the ball to instead of everyone coming short for the ball. Even when Zirkzee came on you can see the difference it makes to have someone actively trying to get on the end of crosses along with Sesko and that’s were the equaliser comes from. I think only one of Amad and Mbeumo can play from that right-hand-side with both of them having terrible performances tonight, Mbeumo has looked really uncomfortable playing centrally in my opinion under Carrick so far even though he has been scoring goals and I think it’s time for him to go back on the right where he plays his best.
There’s too much talent in this West Ham team to go down. Of course it doesn’t mean they’ll stay up but you look at that team West Ham put out and I just can’t understand how they are 18th in the league. You look at players like Summerville, Fernandes, Wan-Bissaka, Diouf and their captain Jarrod Bowen and it really is puzzling with the position they are in. It looks like Nuno has got them drilled defensively with United really struggling to break them down for the whole game and they did look dangerous on the counter through Summerville and Bowen, Soucek is always capable of popping up with a goal and his finishing is underrated after he makes them runs into the box. There is still plenty of games left for West Ham to climb out of the relegation spots and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do it.
United will take a point on the day. To be honest I would’ve bit your hand of for a point in the 80th minute as it looked like United could have played all night and not scored but a moment of brilliance keeps Carrick unbeaten as manager so far and keeps United in 4th as Chelsea threw away a 2 goal lead to Leeds at home. If Liverpool beat Sunderland tomorrow they can close the gap to 2 points on United and would go a point behind Chelsea but Sunderland are unbeaten at home so far this season so it won’t be easy for Liverpool. Regardless United are still looking pretty good for that top 4/5 spot which would earn them Champions League football most likely. They don’t play for nearly two weeks now with Everton on the 23rd of February the next game so it was important to grab something this game to keep at least some momentum, let’s see what Liverpool do tomorrow.