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.
Michael Carrick used one of his old boss’ tricks to snatch a point.
It was a familiar trait of Sir Alex Ferguson to gamble near the end of matches.
He felt it placed doubt in the minds of opposition defenders and the reward was worth the risk of conceding at the other end.
At the London Stadium, with his side staring defeat in the face, Carrick gambled.
Off came full-back Diogo Dalot, on went Joshua Zirkzee, to play as a number 10. Ruben Amorim’s preferred three at the back returned, so skipper Bruno Fernandes could have a free role.
Carrick knew his side might concede again – but he was not trying limit damage, so it didn’t matter.
Three chances came West Ham’s way. They wasted them all.
Zirkzee came close to an equaliser with a flicked header but it sailed narrowly wide.
United were not done though. They kept pushing and in the sixth minute of added time, Carrick’s gamble paid off thanks to Sesko sweeping home Bryan Mbeumo’s cross.
It is the end of Carrick’s winning streak and Frank Ilett can put his scissors away for now – but if any Manchester United fan had been offered four wins and a draw from the interim boss’ first five games in charge, and fourth place in the Premier League, they would have been delighted.
Carrick took a chance and got his reward.