Stop all the clippers, don’t cut off the barnet: Manchester United’s winning run is over. Frank Ilett, the man who pledged never to visit a barber again until United won five matches in a row, has been denied a viral haircut, but their resilience came to the fore after the West Ham were denied what would have been a deserved victory deep into added time.
A studded finish from fan favourite Tomas Soucek was cancelled out by a strike from Benjamin Sesko to leave this match honours even. United lacked energy and snap, West Ham thought they had the game in the bag as the clock ticked past 90 minutes. The Hammers remain in 18th place, five points behind Spurs in 16th.
Kicking off in a mist of tumbling rain that lent a sepulchral air to proceedings, the pace of the first half was also something the undead could relate to. Both teams looked well organised and up for the physical contest, but neither was willing to properly go at their opponent in what was a match with high stakes for both sides.
The opening chance of the match came 13 minutes in, with Crysencio Summerville emerging from his left-hand pocket with a shift of the ball that took him past Diogo Dalot and Matheus Cunha. Darting towards the top of the penalty box, Summerville whipped a right-footed shot to the far post that Senne Lammens had to dive to punch clear. The forward was looking for a sixth goal in sixth consecutive matches for the Hammers.
