West Ham probably would have taken a point before the game but, thanks to the nature of Benjamin Sesko’s equaliser at the London Stadium, Manchester United would shatter Hammers hearts.
In the whole of the Premier League, only Newcastle had conceded more points from winning positions this season.
So as Sesko brilliantly flicked past Mads Hermansen six minutes into stoppage time, the phrase ‘deja vu’ came to mind. West Ham United have now lost 20 points from winning positions.
A DEVASTATING finale! 😩
Give us your immediate reaction after two points are snatched away…
Still, this felt very, very different from those collapses against the likes of Chelsea and Bournemouth, even if it is no less painful. Mostly because it wasn’t deserved.
Ally McCoist could not speak highly enough of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side throughout. West Ham were superbly organised until about the very last kick, while also attacking with real verve and threat when they did get forwards.
Now, pre-match, Tomas Soucek admitted Nuno had asked him to lead by example on the field. As the long-serving midfielder finally broke Patrik Berger’s record to become the most prolific Czech player in Premier League history, he certainly answered his manager’s call.
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Ally McCoist gives Tomas Soucek his Man of the Match award after West Ham v Manchester United
On co-commentary duty for TNT Sports, Rangers and Scotland legend McCoist highlighted the ‘incredible’ difference in Crysencio Summerville, even as his scoring streak would stop at five successive games.
El Hadji Malick Diouf excelled against Amad Diallo, Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos were solid again, and Nuno’s decision to introduce an extra midfielder in Freddie Potts had the desired effect. McCoist, though, could not look beyond a gallant, goalscoring Soucek when selecting his Man of the Match award.
“I’ve got to give it [to Soucek]. He’s been outstanding,” McCoist said, purring in his unmistakeable Glaswegian twang as the giant midfielder won yet another aerial duel. “I have enjoyed Summerville, but Soucek, dear me…”
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Soucek’s goal to open the scoring on 50 minutes was the sort of poacher’s finish a top-class centre-forward like McCoist would have been proud of. A clever cross from Jarrod Bowen into that so-called ‘corridor of uncertainty’ and in came Soucek, storming beyond Lisandro Martinez and flicking past Senne Lammens.
“Brilliant. He gets in the blind side of Martinez, he can’t see him. It’s the deftest of touches,” McCoist crowed. “It’s a wonderful run, its a wonderful pass.”
Soucek equalled Berger’s 19-year record when he scored against Burnley in November’s 3-2 win. Three months later, with his 39th since arriving in the Premier League from Slavia Prague, a place in the history books is now his and his alone.
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