London: Daley Blind’s injury-time equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Manchester United at West Ham United on Sunday but a point was not enough to regain third spot in the Premier League.

A determined West Ham side troubled United all afternoon and their perseverance paid off at the start of the second half when Cheikhou Kouyate scored a neat volley after juggling the ball.
But with time running out the Londoners failed to clear their lines and Dutchman Blind was on hand to guide the ball home from the edge of the box and snatch a point.

A draw for United keep them fourth on 44 points from 24 matches, one behind Southampton and one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, while West Ham remain eighth with 37 points.
Earlier, West Bromwich Albion came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 at fellow strugglers Burnley and claim what could prove to be a crucial point in the fight for Premier League survival.

In a mid-table battle at St James’ Park, Peter Crouch’s late equaliser earned Stoke City a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United and kept Mark Hughes’s side in the top 10.
West Ham made the better start at Upton Park and Enner Valencia forced two smart saves from David De Gea as the home side looked to expose the defensive frailties that have hindered United this season.
James Tomkins was the next West Ham player to test De Gea when the defender’s header from a free kick called the Spanish keeper into action.

But Kouyate finally fired the Hammers in front after the break when he neatly juggled the ball in the box before twisting his body and volleying past the stranded De Gea.
United were struggling to create chances but striker Radamel Falcao squandered an opportunity when through on goal before Robin van Persie had a shot well saved by Adrian.

However, United showed their old battling qualities as West Ham failed to clear Marcos Rojo’s ball forward and Blind struck to deal the Hammers a blow in added time.
United were forced to play the final few minutes with 10 men when defender Luke Shaw received a second yellow card.

“I think we played very badly in the first half and we showed a lot of spirit in the second half, especially after the goal at the beginning,” Dutchman Louis Van Gaal said.

“When we had the ball we didn’t play it along the floor, but also when we lost the ball then you have to win the first and the second balls much better than we did in the first half.

“Because they (West Ham) were playing long balls, we knew that in advance, but all of the second balls were for West Ham and that is why we were under a lot of pressure.

“That is also why the players lost their confidence to play the ball along the floor when we were in possession.”
West Ham should have won this. It reflects their development this season that they were so disappointed by dropping two points. West Ham were terrific from Adrian in goal, and James Tomkins and Kouyate at centre-half, dealing comfortably with Falcao and Robin van Persie.

Sam Allardyce’s full-backs, Carl Jenkinson and Aaron Cresswell were excellent whether defending or flying forward. Alex Song was imperious in central midfield, deepening Rooney’s woes. Song was ably assisted by Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan. Diafra Sakho led the line tirelessly, Enner Valencia was a whirl of motion while Stewart Downing caused the visitors problems with still ball and moving. And yet they left the field with only a point, albeit with huge applause for their endeavours.

Fortune’s always hiding? It did here. Few of their adversaries acquitted themselves well. Luke Shaw made a couple of promising runs but was eventually dismissed for a couple of bad challenges. Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo rarely looked the most robust of centre-half combinations.

Van Gaal’s side were so unconvincing, so lacking in cutting edge, set-piece threat and defensive organisation even before Kouyate scored just after the restart. Manchester United had seemed strongest where West Ham appeared weakened. Missing Winston Reid and James Collins, West Ham turned to Kouyate and Tomkins at centre-back and they had little to concern them until the visitors slowly came to life and only after falling behind.

Burnley’s Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings provided the early spark at a wet and gloomy Turf Moor as they each scored first half headers to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

But Chris Brunt earned West Brom a lifeline towards the end of the first half when he nodded in from a corner and substitute Brown Ideye completed the comeback for Tony Pulis’s side in the second period when he powered in a header from Brunt’s corner.
West Brom are 15th with 23 points from 24 matches, while Burnley are a point above the relegation zone in 17th with 21.

After a drab opening half at St James’ Park, Jack Colback fired Newcastle in front minutes after being fortunate not to receive a second yellow card for a foul on Victor Moses. Gabriel Obertan wasted a chance to double Newcastle’s lead and former England striker Crouch punished them in the 90th minute when he headed in Geoff Cameron’s pinpoint cross.

(agencies)