Sesko strikes late to deny Hammers
Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to rescue a valuable point at The London Stadium last night. It looked to have been a frustrating evening as the reds appeared to have been halted in their chase of third. This still keeps up aims of European football next season.
It was a massive blow to the home side though. They looked set to close the gap on sides above them thanks to a goal from Tomas Soucek. It maintains decent form but keeps them in the relegation zone.
Michael Carrick named an unchanged starting eleven from the win over Spurs. Indeed it was the same time for the third game in a row. Just reward for the form shown since he took over. Nuno Espirito Santo made just one change from their win at Burnley at the weekend. Freddie Potts started ahead of Callum Wilson.
It was somewhat of a tentative start to the game from both sides. Senne Lammens was called into action after ten minutes to punch away a corner. His stretch to calm away a curling effort from Crysencio Summerville. Bruno Fernandes then put a lob over the bar when put through on goal. He had been flagged offside already though.
The best opportunity came after 22 minutes. As with Saturday, United were clever with their corner routine. Fernandes swept a low cross into the centre which was met on the half volley by Luke Shaw. Former Man Utd full-back was in the right place at the right time to clear it off the line.
It was generally more of a tense game than an exciting one though. West Ham loaded up their midfield and were content to sit in and try to frustrate the visitors. For all of their possession, precious little chances were being created. Matheus Cunha was coming deep in order to get on the ball. It had the effect that we lacked a focus upfront though.
It was definitely the home team who were happier at the break.
They were even happier a few minutes into the second-half. It was one that Shaw did not over himself in glory with. A long ball was launched forward to Jarrod Bowen which he failed to get a proper header on. The knockdown came to Tomas Soucek who beat the attempted tackle by Shaw and spread it out wide to Bowen. He crossed it low into the centre to the Czech who got between Harry Maguire and Kobee Mainoo to bundle it home.
The away side did appear to have found an equaliser on 63 minutes. Mainoo picked up the ball in midfield and curled an excellent cross into the area which was met by Casemiro. The Brazilian had just strayed offside though and was ruled out.
Carrick responded by bringing on Benjamin Sesko and Leny Yoro in an attempt to get back into it. The former had a low shot saved by the underworked Mads Hermansen before Bryan Mbeumo put his header wide. Too often, the focus of the attack was through the middle instead of getting out wide. A rare off-night for Amad Diallo did not help in this regard.
As the game entered injury time, the hammers threatened to seal the game. Sub Callum Wilson broke down the right as they won back possession. He elected to take it on himself rather than passing inside to fellow sub Soungoutou Magassa. Yoro was able to see out the effort. They intercepted the ball yet again after the corner was cleared. Magassa was the man on the charge this time. He passed it inside to Adama Traore who was denied by Yoro yet again.
The home defenders were celebrating every block and clearance at the other end. It appeared their jobs were done when Joshua Zirkzee put his header wide from a Fernandes cross.
That was until Sesko struck in the sixth minute. Mbeumo crossed into the box and West Ham looked to have it covered. The Slovenian stole a yard on Axel Disasi and flicked it past the helpless Hermansen. It was his sixth of the season and yet another important late effort.
Diallo did have an opportunity immediately after for the winner. He elected to cross rather than shoot and it was cleared away. Relief rather than elation on the final whistle. The pained expressions on the West Ham management said it all on the other side. They will hope to advance in the FA Cup at Burton on Saturday before travelling to Bournemouth next weekend. We do not play until the 23rd when we travel to Everton.
West Ham United: Mads Hermansen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Disasi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, El Hadji Diouf (Oliver Scarles 80), Jarrod Bowen (Kyle Walker-Peters 90), Tomas Soucek, Freddie Potts (Soungoutou Magassa 80), Crysencio Summerville (Adama Traore 90), Mateus Fernandes, Valentin Castellanos (Callum Wilson 69).
Subs not used: Alphonse Areola, Max Kilman, Mohamadou Kante, Ezra Mayers.
Booked: Mateus Fernandes (70)
Sent off:
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot (Joshua Zirkzee 82), Harry Maguire (Leny Yoro 68), Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, Carlos Casemiro, Kobee Mainoo, Amad Diallo, Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha (Benjamin Sesko 69), Bryan Mbeumo.
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Noussair Mazraoui, Tyrell Malacia, , Ayden Heaven, Manuel Ugarte, Tyler Fletcher.
Booked: Diogo Dalot (57)
Sent off: None
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 62,473
Simply Red Man of the Match: Kobee Mainoo
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