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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