WEST Ham netted late from a set-piece to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight courtesy of Soungoutou Magassa’s equaliser.
The build-up to the English Premier League clash had centered around Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim’s admission he had stolen ideas of how to score from set-pieces from rival managers.
It had allowed Manchester United to move alongside Arsenal for the most goals scored via set-pieces this season, while no-one had conceded more than West Ham.
It was ironic therefore that the visitors should profit from one as Noussair Mazraoui’s goalline clearance from Jarrod Bowen’s flicked header from a West Ham corner should fall to Magassa, who guided home his first goal for the club in the 83rd minute.
It was not enough to take West Ham out of the relegation zone but it did prevent Manchester United moving up to fifth.
That was where Amorim’s side seemed to be heading thanks to Diogo Dalot’s first Premier League goal in more than two years.
Dalot took one touch to control a deflected Casemiro shot eight yards out before beating Alphonse Areola with a tidy finish in front of the Stretford End after 58 minutes.
But it was a laboured performance from the hosts, who have now won once in their past five games and the final whistle brought a smattering of boos from the home fans.
Manchester United are eighth after the shared points, while West Ham are 18th, two points from safety.