MANCHESTER United and Chelsea failed to boost their chances of a top four finish in the English Premier League tonight as both dropped points against lower-placed opposition.
While Manchester United needed a late goal to draw 1-1 at West Ham, Chelsea blew a two-goal lead to finish 2-2 with Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.
Benjamin Sesko netted deep into added time to preserve Michael Carrick’s unbeaten start as Manchester United caretaker head coach and deny West Ham United a crucial win in their battle to avoid relegation.
Carrick had won his first four games in charge, a run of victories that had been beyond his predecessor Ruben Amorim, but the sequence of wins came to an end on a rain-lashed night in east London.
Carrick will however be grateful for a point after Tomas Soucek’s strike early in the second half put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on course for a fourth win in five league games.
Sesko was introduced as Carrick sought solutions in a below-par performance and the summer signing produced a sharp finish high past West Ham keeper Mads Hermansen with seconds remaining.
The first half was an attritional affair, Manchester United coming closest to a breakthrough when Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared Luke Shaw’s close-range effort off the line from a well-worked corner.
West Ham took the lead five minutes after the interval when Shaw failed to win a challenge and Czech Republic midfielder Soucek escaped the attention of Kobbie Mainoo to steer home a finish at the near post.
Manchester United thought they had responded swiftly when Casemiro headed past Hammers goalkeeper Hermansen, but the Brazilian had strayed offside.
Carrick’s side pressed for a leveller, but just as West Ham thought they had survived, Sesko came to Manchester United’s rescue.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea missed the chance to move into the top four after throwing away a two-goal lead against Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.
The hosts had a two-goal cushion thanks to efforts either side of half-time from Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer.
But they conspired to throw it away, first by gifting Leeds a route back into the match when Moises Caicedo brought down Jayden Bogle to allow Lukas Nmecha to convert from the spot.
The equaliser came via calamitous defending, with Josh Acheampong, Malo Gusto and Robert Sanchez failing to clear a ball over the top, allowing Noah Okafor to poke home an equaliser.
Chelsea had won all four of their Premier League matches under new manager Liam Rosenior, but Manchester United’s draw against West Ham United in the later kick-off means the Blues remain in fifth.
Leeds leapfrog Tottenham into 15th place.
With agency reports