Manchester United’s four-game winning streak came to an end in a 1-1 draw away at West Ham United on Tuesday night. The Red Devils were perhaps fortunate to take a point at the London Stadium, and Michael Carrick has learned just how much work there is to do.
Qualification for the UEFA Champions League remains in United’s hands despite dropping points against the Hammers. It looked likely that Carrick would taste defeat for the first time as caretaker manager, but a last-minute strike from Benjamin Sesko ensured he remains unbeaten.
Sesko came on in the 69th minute for Matheus Cunha and came to the rescue yet again. The Slovenian got on the end of a Bryan Mbeumo cross in the 90+6th minute and superbly guided the ball past Mads Hermansen.
West Ham 1-1 Manchester United: Carrick’s learning curve
It’s hard to criticise Carrick, given the remarkable turnaround he’s overseen in his short time as interim coach. He replaced Ruben Amorim at the start of January and took charge of a beleaguered Manchester United side that was enduring a difficult period.
Carrick made an immediate impact with a change of system and an upturn in mood at Carrington. A 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Manchester Derby was the perfect start for the Englishman.
This was followed by the best result of the Red Devils’ campaign when they became the first Premier League team to defeat Arsenal at the Emirates this season. A 3-2 win over the Gunners intensified talk that Carrick might just be the ideal long-term appointment.
That said, there were signs in a 3-2 win against Fulham that trouble was ahead for Carrick and his troops. The draw against West Ham was a setback, not just because of the result but also because of the performance, with his side struggling to break down a low block.
Carrick’s approach for the game was questionable as it was clear that a target man was needed up top against a stubborn Hammers defence. He waited until there were 20 minutes on the clock to introduce Sesko, who ensured his side didn’t head back to Manchester empty-handed.
Sesko has impressed off the bench and now saved the Reds on two occasions. The Slovenian striker should be in line for a start against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium next Monday (February 23rd).
The 22-year-old arrived from RB Leipzig last summer in a £74m deal but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter. His sweet strike last night was his seventh goal in 23 appearances across competitions, and his physical presence should be used against a David Moyes side next time out.
Manchester United’s worst performance under Carrick has positives
It was always going to be a difficult night in London against a resurgent West Ham side, who are embroiled in a relegation battle. Nuno Espirito Santo set his team up to slow the Reds down, and it worked for the majority of the game.
This was Manchester United’s second game in four days, and it showed with several players looking fatigued. Luke Shaw and Amad were particularly not at their best,t while Casemiro’s energy understandably faded late on.
On the bright side, the Red Devils were still able to play poorly and not lose, which is a good sign. The players seemed to acknowledge they were off the pace, but their heads didn’t drop, and they pushed for an equaliser until the very end.
There were positives, including Sesko starting to build momentum and Leny Yoro’s impressive showing off the bench. If it weren’t for the French defenders, two challenges late on Carrick’s night would have ended in defeat.
“Gave everything” – Carrick’s thoughts
It’s easy to forget just how poor Manchester United were during Amorim’s reign, especially when chasing games. Think back to the 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton back in November when the team failed to make the most of a one-man advantage at Old Trafford.
The Reds never looked like scoring that night, and it was puzzling to see Shea Lacey left on the bench. This wasn’t the case last night and Carrick highlighted this in his post-match interview (via TNT Sports):
“We gave everything at the end with lots of attacking players on the pitch. Maybe we could have put more balls into the box.”
Manchester United’s coaching staff now need to figure out ways to break down teams that set up a mid-block to neutralise the threat in the middle. The game at Everton will be a massive test for Carrick and his side to show they can adjust against such opposition.
