Sesko’s 96th-minute strike earns Man Utd point at West Ham

Benjamin Sesko struck in the 96th minute 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 kept pressing for a leveller while West Ham failed to give themselves a two-goal cushion, and with seconds remaining they were made to pay as Sesko came to Manchester United’s rescue.

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