There was one question on the lips of seemingly every single West Ham supporter as Benjamin Sesko’s ingenious flick hit the back of Mads Hermansen’s net and rescued a point for Michael Carrick’s Manchester United at the London Stadium.
Where on earth did those seven minutes of extra time come from?
Sesko’s equaliser, as late as it was, was far from the final kick during Tuesday’s tense Premier League encounter between two in-form sides at either end of the division.
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OK, yes, there was a VAR review to rule out Casemiro’s header, but that was sorted out pretty speedily. Yes, Harry Maguire had a bit of treatment for an apparent hamstring issue. And, yes, West Ham United and Manchester United would bring on eight substitutes between them.
Of course, Tomas Soucek’s 50th minute opener also sparked a celebration which the fourth official had to take into account; the West Ham veteran became top Czech goalscorer in the competition as he tapped home a Jarrod Bowen cross while Michail Antonio was left purring on the sidelines.
But, still, seven minutes felt excessive.
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West Ham United fans not happy with Benjamin Sesko’s extra-time equaliser
When we at Hammers News asked you to give your response to a hard-earned yet somewhat heart-breaking draw, the frustration was not aimed at Nuno Espirito Santo’s players even after they dropped a 20th point from another winning position.
It was aimed firmly at the officials.
“Did I watch a different second-half? Seven minutes from where?,” one TalkingPoints user writes on our Facebook page. “Robbed of a win. Hope the two points don’t cost us come May.”
“Robbed! Seven minutes, please explain to me, from where?,” another agrees.
“Never seven minutes of injury time.”
“Gutted we didn’t hold out for the win! Seven minutes added seemed a lot, particularly when there was no stoppages for injuries. Only one VAR check and a few substitutions. Maybe those 90 minute subs cost us?
“Mind you, I’d have taken 1-1 before the game… Feels like we are beginning to play like a team and I have everything crossed that we can continue in this vein and escape the drop.”
“Should’ve been up three [goals] before they scored, even though my feeling is the ref wouldn’t have ended the game until Man United scored. They would’ve been playing till Friday afternoon waiting for Man United’s equaliser. But it was a good touch for their goal [from Sesko].”
“Can’t believe it. Seven minutes?
“Where did seven minutes of extra time come from?”
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Nuno Espirito Santo rules wastefulness in Manchester United draw
The result means that, while West Ham have lost just one of their last five league matches, the gap between themselves and Nottingham Forest will extend to five points yet again should Sean Dyche’s side beat Wolves at home tonight.
And, as bad as Forest were at Leeds on Friday, they really should be beating Wolves at home tonight.
Nuno’s main gripe was that West Ham did not kill the game as a contest before Bryan Mbeumo’s cross was turned home in style at the death. Adama Traore and Callum Wilson were both denied by wonderful Leny Yoro blocks as a series of promising counter attacks fizzled.
“We competed really well. We played a good game against a good team,” Nuno said on TNT Sports. “First half, not many chances. We started really well the second-half, we scored and defended properly until the last minute.
“It’s a tough, tough team to stop. I think the boys did really well.
“[But] we can do more. We should have killed the game. We had a couple of counter-attacks which would have put the game to bed. We have to keep on going.”
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