Manchester United continued their struggles in preserving a lead in the Premier League’s top five, as West Ham fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s side took the lead after Diogo Dalot scored his first league goal in 19 months, but they were unable to hold on as Soungoutou Magassa won a crucial point in the visitors’ bid to avoid relegation.
United have only lost once in their previous eight games, but they could have been in a much better position had they not dropped points against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Everton, and now West Ham.
The Red Devils are ranked eighth in the table, just two points below the top four. A draw brings West Ham to within two points of safety as Nuno Espirito Santo’s turnaround continues.
Amorim welcomed Matheus Cunha back from injury to reinforce the United attack, but the hosts lacked the creativity and drive needed to break down the Hammers’ well-organized defense.
Joshua Zirkzee scored United’s first Premier League goal in over a year on Sunday, sparking the club’s comeback against a fatigued Crystal Palace.
However, without the injured Benjamin Sesko as the focal point of the United attack, the Dutchman was once again unsuccessful.
Zirkzee came near to breaking the deadlock before halftime, improvising to thigh Amad Diallo’s threatening cross goalwards, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line to deny his former club.
West Ham’s reprieve lasted only a few seconds, as the loose ball dropped to Bruno Fernandes, who hit the outside of the post with an outrageous volley.
Lucas Paqueta, the visitors’ main danger, was sent off for dissent in Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.
Jarrod Bowen, as a result, had to shoulder an even greater creative responsibility for the Hammers, nearly scoring from nothing with a jinking run through four United challenges before his effort bounced beautifully into the arms of Senne Lammens.
Just before the hour mark, United eventually capitalized on their possession domination through an odd means.
Amorim publicly confessed last week that Dalot was “far from his best” on the United squad.
The Portuguese fullback reacted with his first Premier League goal since May 2024. Dalot took advantage of Casemiro’s deflected effort, but he used his quick feet to control the ball before sweeping it into the far corner.
However, United were left to rue their failure to capitalize on their lead when the Hammers responded.
Bowen was again the spark, winning a corner and then flicking Andy Irvine’s pass into the net.
Noussair Mazraoui cleared off the line, but only for Magassa, who scored his first goal in English football.
Fernandes still had two chances to clinch all three points in stoppage time but both times lacked his usual control, resulting in reckless finishes that went high beyond the crossbar.
