Manchester United missed another chance to push for a top-four Premier League finish after being held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against West Ham in the 14th round. Diogo Dalot gave United the lead in the 58th minute, but French midfielder Soungoutou Magassa equalised for the Hammers in the 83rd, securing a late point for the visitors. The result leaves United in eighth place with 22 points, narrowly missing out on fifth, while West Ham climbed to 12 points but remains 18th in the relegation zone.
Frustration Mounts Among Fans and Former Stars
The draw summed up the frustration surrounding United’s season so far. Manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged what went wrong, particularly the failure to maintain a second-half lead. As per reports, he explained, “It happened with a long ball. They win the second ball against three guys. Second balls sometimes are tactical things. We try to adjust with the players we have. In the final minutes, the ball was far from the opponent. We cannot let a team that is so much taller than us have a corner.”
Roy Keane also voiced his concern, reflecting the feelings of many supporters: “The word everyone will be using is frustration. I wouldn’t trust or believe in this team. There are more goals [in them] but defensively and in midfield there are still huge question marks.”
Patterns of Late Draws Continue
The match continued a troubling pattern for United, who have repeatedly dropped points from winning positions. Keane highlighted the inconsistency, noting, “One minute, you think they are making progress, they could move fifth, but they don’t get the job done. They look frightened to get the job done.”
Recent examples include a draw at Nottingham Forest in November after leading, a stoppage-time equaliser conceded at Tottenham, and a home loss to 10-man Everton after the international break. Now, after conceding late to West Ham, United remain mid-table in a cluster of 11 clubs separated by just four points.
Amorim Seeks Calm and Progress
Despite mounting frustrations, Amorim maintained a composed approach post-match, stating he would address the issues at Carrington rather than reacting immediately. He denied that the club is regressing, adding, “It’s not going backwards. We had some moments. That can happen. You were talking about when we had the run and [saying that] we were perfect, when we were not. We are inconsistent. If you look at the goal, after 83 minutes there is a long ball and we have everything under control. We must do better.”
United face bottom club Wolves on Monday, marking another opportunity to gain points late in the Premier League round. Yet the recurring pattern of conceding late goals and dropping crucial points continues to test the patience of fans, pundits, and club legends alike.
