ROBIN VAN PERSIE struck a late equaliser at West Ham United for the second time this season as champions elect Manchester United scraped a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Just as he had in the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Upton Park in January, van Persie found the net in front of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand to rescue United from being penalised for a sluggish display.
West Ham had looked set to earn a hard-fought win through a vicious strike from Mohamed Diame, who restored the hosts’ lead early in the second half after Antonio Valencia cancelled out Ricardo Vaz Te’s opener.
With second-place Manchester City having beaten Wigan Athletic, United now require six points from their final five games to secure a 20th English league title.
Their lead is now 13 points, but while a late collapse appears unthinkable, manager Alex Ferguson will be concerned by the apathy that has crept into his team’s play.West Ham, meanwhile, climb one place to 11th — one point short of the 40-point mark — and their top-flight status seems all but secure.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is eager to tie on-loan striker Andy Carroll to a permanent contract and the Liverpool man demonstrated his worth with a brilliantly uncompromising display.
The West Ham number eight was the first player to threaten at either end, showing great footwork to shield the ball from a posse of defenders before dispatching a low shot that grazed the right-hand post.
James Collins glanced a Gary O’Neil corner over the bar, before the hosts’ positive start received its reward in the 17th minute.
Carroll was the key link in the chain at the end of a swift counter-attack, nodding the ball down for Vaz Te to score with a diving header after Matt Jarvis surged past Rio Ferdinand on the left.
United’s frustration told with a hopeful shot off target from Wayne Rooney, restored to a striker’s role after his stint in midfield at Stoke City on Sunday, but in the 31st minute they levelled.
It was the first piece of quality in attack the visitors showed, but it was devastating with Van Persie slipping a pass inside to Shinji Kagawa, whose shimmy took him past a defender and allowed him to centre for Valencia to tap home.
In reply, Diame hit the side netting for the hosts, while home skipper Kevin Nolan had a penalty appeal turned down after tangling with Nemanja Vidic just inside the United box.
Booked following a tussle with United goalkeeper David de Gea early in the second half, Carroll came close to exacting swift revenge with a dipping half-volley that narrowly missed the Spaniard’s right-hand post.If United thought they had survived the West Ham storm, they were wrong, as Diame put the hosts back in front with a fine goal 10 minutes after the interval.
Collecting a pass from Guy Demel near the United byline on the West Ham right, he span away from Rooney and set himself before bending a sweet left-foot shot into the bottom-left corner from outside the box.
United’s push for an equaliser drew the best from the hosts, with O’Neil hacking a shot from Rooney off the line and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen producing a superb one-handed save to deny Van Persie.
West Ham’s luck was to desert them in the 77th minute, however, as Van Persie slammed home the equaliser after Kagawa’s deflected shot struck both posts.
Jaaskelainen then saved from United substitute Javier Hernandez, but defeat would have been cruel on the home side.
(Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
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De Gea could have been killed.
:)
That donkey Carroll would ve been thrown out of the WWE for that offence!
An exceptional footballing donkey though!
Theres another couple of million added to his price tag – and Diame also!
So u reckon he s worth 37 million now? I must get u to value my house for me.
Unfortunately he wasn’t….
Liverpool have launched a forty million bid for Andrew Carroll. South Korean have launched a missile at Carroll. Suarez has launched his teeth at Carroll.
No Gerrie, its now £19m!
The £35m was a massive Liverpool fail.
@gerry.. Just not for the household tax
But the last transaction involving Andy Carroll cost 35 mill. We re splitting hairs here Paul. We both know what the other means! And ur clearly not a United fan. Pity… Cos it’s a great time to be one. The title in the bag and half a dozen games left to enjoy City s pain. Oh and to savour Liverpool s vain efforts to secure a Champions League spot!
No hair splitting. West Ham can buy Carroll for £17m if they want to.
But no way can West Ham and all other clubs (bar the billionare clubs of Man U, Man C, Chelsea) afford £17m – crazy!!!!!
Paul – “Hair splitting”…. come on now ;)
Sorry I couldn’t let that go!!
I hate going down the hammers, ye feckers have cost us too many leagues!!!
And loved every one of them. Sadly for us, it tends to be the highlight of our season.
Id like to see utd win a league fairly for once,Ferguson has referees and the media in his back pocket he ownes the fa 2 should be a investigation into corrupt fa,
Yeh we won all the games by cheating and paying off refs dear god.
No he is not really – did you here Fergies post match interview! Sickening! He saw a lot, but not the offside – which is confirmation that it was indeed offside. Hey even TheScore doesnt mention it above!
It is also a pain listening to Skys perpetual “United” love fest! The arrogance – and how much they get away with from the officials!
Most Man U fans have forgotten what its like not to have the near billion.
What about the scenes in Cardiff last night – that was wonderful. But maybe only a patronising “ahhhhh” from the plastic multitude.
Spoken like a true scouser Leigh.
Rubbish..i remember and will never forget the 80s…when we won nothing and were absolutely rubbish…ill never forget the 80s.
I’ll give you that Leslie – the 80′s were muck for Man U, wasnt there even relegation? Didnt it all turn on that Mark Hughes (?) semi final winner. Fergie was almost on his way out at that stage.
But now its different, you have the plastic multitude and are set up for a long time. It could end up something like the SPL – when Rangers are back. But it will be Man City, Chelsea and Man U – then the rest.
Mad, I say – mad!
Mark Robins was the man Paul.
irish people calling each other mancs/scouse bugs me .
I have a spray and a hammer for you then Matt. Bugs annoy me too.
No Paul it was mark Robin’s 3rd round of the cup v forest in Jan 90. Mark Hughes injury time goal was in extra time in the cup against oldham in 94.
Thanks Headtheball and Leslie!
Old age – and I’m up too late.
I didn’t want to say it Paul. Time you fecked off to bed, your on the war path tonight :D
Your boys are safe now for this season!
Leigh, just have a good look at yourself will you? Tit
Where’s all this hoof ball that West Ham are supposed to play? Two excellent goals.
Oh and an offside goal and 4 fergie mins for them!
How many utd players would be in pfa team of the year? After van persie theres not many jumping out
Carrick.
De Gea – 10 games in a row with clean sheets.
Carrick & RVP.
Bale, Mata, Cazorla, Michu, Fellaini. There’s five midfielders more worthy of getting one in my opinion.
De Gea – 1 clean sheet in first 19 matches. Short term memory United fans. PFA awards for the full season, not how you end it.
Yes Aidan, your the club who go on about Liverpool having the most points outside of United since the turn of the year.
Michu…… midfielder…
No, surprisingly enough us Chelsea fans don’t “go on about Liverpool having the most points outside of United since the turn of the year”….
Fair point about Michu, but I think he has to get in the team, so it’s either RVP’s spot or centre midfield. And centre mid looks more likely.
Andy Carroll ;-)
Michu won’t because he isn’t in the top 4/5 teams. The guy has been the buy of the season, gets on with the game and is quality. Would love to see him at United but that isn’t going to happen.
IF Spurs get into the CL then they should target a lad like him and Benteke, a bit of class and a strong centre forward.
Didn’t Scott Parker get PFA player of the year a few years back when West Ham were relegated? It’s a prize for the best players, not teams.
U could be right, can’t remember off the top of my head. Thats when United should have bought Parker. Has been understated in the PL.
Parker did indeed.
Paul, thought you were gone to bed!
Good call Aidan, forgot totally! Maybe Michu will, as I said WELL deserved but I still can’t see it.
I rest my case.
Going now!
Im all footballed out!
My U13 son won an important game 1:0 yesterday – a tight and head wrecking match! Followed by another tonight where my U17 son gauranteed second spot with another tight 1:0 win and then there was Man U v West Ham.
Maybe watching cricket doesn’t require beta blockers!
Ah the 17 year old son, if you thought that following the hammers was stressful :)
Obviously u missed the Manc derby
That was meant for headtheball
Carrick I nearly broke my finger on the red thumb u put him before lampard,gerrard,corzola,wilshere,Gibson,fellani,barry,toure,cabeye,even luiz
Carrick is complete rubbish . One good pass in his career he made.
Whatever about following West Ham being stressful, you definitely need a strong sense of humour. Luckily most of us do.
Rooney, Ferdinand, evra definitely off there game tonight- Rooney was really really poor looked really disinterested tonite
He’s leaving in the summer I think
Rooney is on the plane already. He has zero interest. His united career has petered out totally and was “lacking” to say the least for both goals. Spoilt kid.
We will fall over the line but needs major surgery in the middle.
Or maybe it was O’Neill and Carroll that kept him out of the game? Carroll was certainly winding him up and O’Neill had a great game.
No, I guess it probably wasn’t that at all.
How can a guy up the other end of the field affect rooney.
Rooney gave the ball away way back outside the West Ham box that led to the Vaz Te goal and Carroll was clearing off the line. Both players were out of their normal positions with Vaz Te up front on his own. Carroll ran himself into the ground, covered the pitch (as he always does) and was the man of the match. Carroll needled him and was at him for most of the West Ham crosses and corners.
And O’Neill was biting at Rooneys ankles.
They should have really bitten RVP and Valencias ankles. Weren’t anywhere to be seen then.
Worst ‘challenge ‘ of the season and Carroll gets away scot free. 35 million worth of donkey missile!
Caveman football from West Ham typical of big fat Sam.
Yep cos Diames goal was clearly long ball ugly football. Nicking an undeserved draw and still not willing to give any credit where its clearly due. Hardly a trait of a united fan?
Diames was a great goal in fairess, that was an OTT challenge though.
I think ye deserved a draw though Paddy, off the line clearance twice for the hammers and an on the line stop by Jasskalenin.
And Vaz Te’s goal had nothing to do with Diames run, Jarvis’s jinking, twisting, to the byline and cross and Carrolls header down to Vaz Te.
A very strong and physical team that can play football. Sam’s repuation precedes him, but watch West Hams game tonight gain. Forget the hoof ball – check Opta Stats for yourself.
Giggs hoof to RVP for the 95th minute equaliser in the cup was special – wasn’t it?
You seem to have forgotten an offside goal there Headtheball…
Didn’t forget it thanks. Was well offside, but thems the breaks aren’t they. Forgot Carrolls elbow too, thanks for reminding me.
Did you watch the match Eamonn?
Nice push there Vidic, now be quite you reds :)
http://i.minus.com/ibz1ME0spQvElQ.gif
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini on Manchester United’s 13-point advantage: “If they hadn’t scored an offside goal it would be even fewer points.”
:-)
You’ve got to bless his cotton scarf
Mancini might want to look at his own performance as a manager defending a title , very poor , terrible transfer handling , and if all the Manu hating about how poor this united side is to be believed…then being 13 points such an allegedly poor team ….speaks volumes , united weren’t last nite , but west ham have always been tricky away , fans will remember how out allegedly better united teams were denied titles because they couldn’t beat west ham away , great to see united respond to loosing title last year by so comprehensively marching towards a 20th league title , an amazing achievement and ferguson does it again , a real sickener for the many ABU’s
Should of read united weren’t good last night….
A point from guaranteed safety il take that COYI
Jaysus Gavin – welcome!
Reinforcements required here :)
1 point at Anfield, 1 point at St Marys and yet again another draw with Man U this season. Three massive points. Who would have thought that at the start of this un of games!
COYI!
Best players in the league are Bale,.Mata, RVP, Suarez, Hazard, Cazorla. I wouldnt place any other united player in that group at the min. Utds season was based on a good team rather than one or two outstanding players, they done the simple things well the likes of Carrick, Cleverly etc
More reinforcements here Paul. COYI!
Good one Patrick!!!
The other united outnumbers all – as they do :)
I see Vidic actually knudged Carroll as he fell into De Gea :)
And another one here! COYI! We’ve been the Man U bogey team time and again, always something to look forward to.
Once a referee gives a decision against utd and whiskey nose don’t like it he won’t ref another utd game for years and be demoted to championship FACT corrupt VERMIN
Oopps. So Leigh your the token troll for tonight? Going to love reading your posts.
Do you ever think of the fact that if united complain about a ref, that the fa don’t let him officiate another united game because for a while becase 1) everybody scrutinises referees in games united play in and 2) what do ye expect? Some one like mark clattenburg to be refereeing a united game once every two weeks? Doesn’t work like that!! And if you finish TOP of the league you deserve to be there, every team has their fair share of luck… As in yes, united are just as unlucky and lucky as any other team in the p.l but they are more scrutinised and that comes with success!! weren’t west ham awful lucky that andy Carroll didn’t walk tonight, or will we just forget that because its united?? Vermin, yeah, that’s a very intelligent comment by you there, Jesus Christ….. Pure nonsense
Just after noticing the jersey Leigh’s wearing….. Tells a lot…. I’m sure Liverpool have never got their fair share of luck at all at all……..
Your hardly suprised at that now Leo? Lovely pretty picture though isn’t it ;)
Leo would you agree that City deserved the title last year?
Yes they did, even if it was by the most slender of margins…. You finish top after thirty eight games, you deserve to be there…. Yet the despite the fact that united this season are cantering away with the title, it’s only because we have the refs bought and sir Alex is a bollox and we have the fa corrupt etc etc…..
Not1 penalty given against utd this season enough said
Hopefully it is enough said, your fingers are going to go up on fire.
The famous Howard Webb has given 3 penalties this season……All to Liverpool.
Tell me when should ye have a got a penalty??? Hahaha your laughable!!
Carrick has been good but give me mata any day over him.
Even as a utd fan id agree..
Mata and Silva are better creative midfielders, BUT in Carricks defense he has been very good defensively for us this year.
You’re doing more defending than Carrick on this thread headtheball
Just commenting on a United thread Alan. Bit like you comment when Liverpool play… oh wait… sorry I was confusing you with someone else.
Any thoughts on the game?
Yeah, we’ve got a ready made replacement for Carragher when he retires at the end of the season in Carroll!
United have villa,Chelsea,arsenal next 3 games,come on city believe
No…
And your going to play where next Mark?
Tottenham minus Gareth Bale
Bale will be back ;) Spurs will do what Wigan couldn’t. It will be great to see.
My god lads have you ever seen someone as disinterested in playing a match as Rooney tonight. The lad has it plane tickets booked. We really need to get our act together. The performances since the madrid game have been the worst ive seen in years.
Squad needs a big shake up in the summer
I would cream my pants to give west ham Carroll in exchange for Diame