Sesko's Dramatic Stoppage-Time Heroics Rescues Man Utd from West Ham Defeat

Manchester United were rescued by yet another late Benjamin Šeško strike, though this time they could only secure a draw against West Ham United.

Michael Carrick's squad was held by the determined Hammers, who are battling relegation at the bottom of the table and appeared set to claim victory for the fourth time in five matches after Tomáš Souček gave them the advantage early in the second period.

The away side struggled to break through after Casemiro saw his effort disallowed for an offside position, and were lucky to trail by just one goal as the match entered its final stages. West Ham's failure to capitalize on counter-attacking opportunities proved decisive, as Šeško cleverly finished at the front post to earn a draw for Carrick's team.

Therefore, while United failed to capitalize on Chelsea's dropped points and have kept the door open for Liverpool's match tomorrow, they depart east London with their recent good form still intact.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

One Thing We Can't Ignore

It's clear why Michael Carrick values Amad Diallo. The hardworking Ivorian demonstrated his importance in the Manchester Derby recently, though not through his creative play. Rather, it was his defensive contributions that impressed, with Amad skillfully executing the manager's tactical plan to provide consistent support for his fullback.

With Carrick reasonably choosing not to rotate his squad, Amad has featured in all five matches during his management period. He's now played the full 90 minutes in four of those games, yet the winger hasn't registered any goal or assist since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

While United don't require Amad to consistently contribute in the final third, one might question whether the visitors would have benefited from a different attacking option against West Ham's compact defense. Amad's trademark inside runs, which have characterized Carrick's United, were rarely seen at the London Stadium, though the visitors desperately needed them to stretch West Ham's defensive line.

Benjamin Šesko's substitute appearance had been unremarkable, but his clinical finishing ability was demonstrated by his clever equalizing goal late in the match. In this instance, United might have been better served with Šeško's physical presence available from the beginning.

Man Utd Player Ratings vs. West Ham (4-2-3-1)

Man Utd Player Ratings vs. West Ham (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Senne Lammens—7.1: Lammens had no chance to stop West Ham's opener on what was otherwise a relatively quiet evening after making an important early save from Crysencio Summerville's dangerous attempt. Showed good positioning when called upon.

RB: Diogo Dalot—7.1: Successfully contained the impressive Summerville after the Dutch winger had tested Lammens in the opening minutes. Demonstrated excellent close control under pressure on several occasions.

CB: Harry Maguire—7.2: Experienced some hamstring discomfort in the first half but continued until being substituted after the hour mark. Defended the wide areas effectively, and United will be hoping the England defender has avoided serious injury.

CB: Lisandro Martínez—7.7: Composed throughout most of the match and remained calm under West Ham's attacking pressure. Made some desperate challenges when United were pushing for an equalizer in the closing stages.

LB: Luke Shaw—7.7: Showed solid defensive work at the far post and provided useful attacking support, though the England international was partly at fault during the sequence leading to the opening goal.

DM: Casemiro—7.1: His forward runs into the penalty area troubled West Ham's defense, and he nearly found the equalizer with a well-placed header from open play.

DM: Kobbie Mainoo—7.3: Didn't enjoy the same creative freedom he's had in recent matches under Carrick, as West Ham effectively prevented Mainoo from connecting defense with attack.

RW: Amad Diallo—7.1: Manchester United required more impact from the Ivorian, and Carrick's choice to keep him on for the full match was questionable. Struggled when switched to the left flank.

AM: Bruno Fernandes—7.0: Came into Tuesday's fixture in excellent form, but the crowded midfield limited his influence in east London.

LW: Matheus Cunha—6.5: The Brazilian managed to add tempo to United's often sluggish attacking moves in tight spaces, but like his fellow attackers, Cunha was consistently marked by West Ham defenders.

ST: Bryan Mbeumo—7.5: Had minimal impact from his central role but created opportunities when drifting to the right wing. Set up the equalizing goal, which was all about the quality of the finish.

SUB: Leny Yoro (68' for Maguire)—6.6: Occasionally careless when building play from defense, but his recovery tackles were outstanding in the final moments.

SUB: Benjamin Šeško (68' for Cunha)—6.9: Created magic from very little to guarantee Manchester United left with a point.

SUB: Joshua Zirkzee (82' for Dalot)—N/A

Subs not used: Altay Bayındır (GK), Ayden Heaven, Tyrell Malacia, Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia, Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fletcher.

What the Ratings Tell Us

What the Ratings Tell Us

The Numbers That Explain Man Utd's Frustrating Night

The Numbers That Explain Man Utd's Frustrating Night