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West Ham missed a golden opportunity to get their first win over Manchester United since 2007 as Daley Blind scored a stoppage time equaliser to rescue a point for the Red Devils. The Hammers took the lead early in the second half thanks to a sublime goal from Cheikhou Kouyate in a game that the visitors finished with 10 men after Luke Shaw's late sending off.Kouyate who was playing as a makeshift centre back, juggled the ball twice, with his back to goal before swivelling and releasing a sublime volley from Mark Noble's free-kick. United put the Hammers under pressure after that and that pressure paid off in the 93rd minute as Blind volleyed home the equaliser from Angel Di Maria's cross.Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Goal changes game
It might be a cliché but goals do change games. In this case, West Ham's goal early in the second half, completely changed the complexion of the game. Daley Blind described the first half as a "battle" and that is precisely what is was. Although both side had their chances, it was the hosts that looked more likely to score first and when they did, it forced a response from the Red Devils.
Until the goal, Van Gaal's side were content to sit back and break with pace, but needing a goal to draw level, brought them out of their shell and made for a thoroughly engrossing second half. The longer the game went, the more you felt as though there was going to be another goal. In the end, that goal came in stoppage time and gave United a point from a tricky away encounter.
#2 Sakho and Valencia show how its done
While all the talk this season has been about United's defence and how it isn't a title-winning defence, not much has been said about their strikers. Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have struggled this season and against West Ham, they were given a master class on how striking partnerships operate by Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho. Although both sides employed similar formations, the contrast in the two sets of strikers couldn't be more striking.
With Valencia and Sakho, the Hammers had two players who not only had the pace to penetrate any defence, but also the willingness to run the channels. The duo's pace and movement stretched the defence and caused United problems all day long. Although United's pair didn't play badly, their non-existent movement and lack of pace made it easy for the home side's makeshift defence.
#3 Blind keeps the away run going
The hallmark of a top side isn't winning when they are on top, but finding a way to get a result, even when their performances are from convincing. It is fair to say that so far this season, the Red Devils haven't looked convincing as a genuine title contender. And yet, they are currently fourth and had the opportunity to move to within three points off second-placed Manchester City.
Blind's goal continued United's remarkable away run that has seen them lose just twice away from home all season and none since early November. If they can stay near the top four for long enough, their attacking quality will mean that, at the end of the season, they have a real chance at not just finishing in the Champions League places, but also perhaps run City close for second place.
#4 Hammers\' aerial dominance finally pays dividends
For all the talk of attractive football that West Ham have played this season, there is no denying the fact that they are still one of the best sides in the league, when it comes to set-pieces. With that in mind, the visitors had to ensure that they don't fall victim to the trap that is now set with misconception surrounding the Hammers. But United failed to do that. Not only did they give away cheap free kicks around the box, in dangerous positions, but also failed to win the first and the second balls from those set-pieces.
Although David de Gea kept the Hammers out in the first half, it was only a matter of time before their dominance resulted in a goal. Although they only finished with a point, they can take heart from their performance against a side that is unbeaten in their last six away games.
#5 David de Gea to United\'s rescue...again
Amidst all the money that United spent last summer, if there is one reason why they are currently in fourth place, then it is David De Gea. The Spaniard has been the best keeper in the league this season and against West Ham, once again showed the value of having a world class goalkeeper in your ranks.
Although the visitors didn't defend set-pieces well all day long, they managed to hold out until the second thanks to their Spanish shot-stopper who looked as though he simply couldn't be beaten. And it took a sublime strike for West Ham to finally breach De Gea's goal. While Blind will grab all the headlines for his late goal, if it weren't for the 24-year-old in goal, the Hammers would have been out of sight by then.
