West Ham vs. Manchester United: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League

Daley Blind's late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Manchester United at West Ham on Sunday evening in the Premier League.

Following a scoreless first half, Cheikhou Kouyate put West Ham ahead in the 49th minute with a superb display of individual skill. The hosts appeared set for victory until the second minute of stoppage time, when Blind volleyed in the equaliser to give Manchester United a share of the points.

The result meant Manchester United missed a chance to move back into third place, but it could have been much worse for Louis van Gaal's side. With the draw, the Red Devils are now fourth with 44 points through 24 matches.

But while Manchester United currently sit in the Premier League's final UEFA Champions League place, they will have to do better if they want to hold it. The Red Devils struggled for much of the 90 minutes to create cohesive attacks and often seemed bereft of ideas in the final third.

What's more, Van Gaal and his players will have to stave off what could be a strong challenge from fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who sit just one point back. Mauricio Pochettino's side are in form and seem to have plenty of momentum following a win over rivals Arsenal—who themselves are only one further point back in sixth place—on Saturday.

Meanwhile, West Ham narrowly missed out on a win that would have seen them move up to seventh place. Instead, the Hammers are eighth with 37 points.

Up next, Manchester United host relegation scrappers Burnley on Wednesday. West Ham play at third-placed Southampton the same day.

West Ham started brightly but nearly created a catastrophe in the fifth minute as Alex Song sent an errant pass straight to Robin van Persie in the box. However, Van Persie was unable to shoot as Kouyate made a timely intervention to concede only a corner, which came to nothing.

From there, the hosts began to create chances of their own. In the 14th minute, Enner Valencia tested Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea with a powerful shot from distance, which De Gea pushed past the post. After the visitors failed to clear the resulting corner, Valencia directed a twisting, turning volley on target, but De Gea tipped it over.

De Gea denied West Ham again in the 32nd minute, kick-saving James Tomkins' downward header from an Aaron Cresswell free-kick.

At the other end, Angel Di Maria shot from distance in the 41st minute as Manchester United mounted a rare attack. West Ham goalkeeper Adrian saved easily.

Having failed to beat De Gea throughout the first half, West Ham finally found the back of the net—thanks to a moment of individual brilliance—shortly after the interval. 

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

In the 49th minute, the visitors were unable to clear a Mark Noble free-kick. The ball bounced to Kouyate, who had his back to goal. Juggling the ball with a pair of deft touches, Kouyate turned and blasted in a volley for the opening goal.

It was a deserved lead for West Ham, who had enjoyed the better of play throughout the match to that point. Manchester United responded well, however, Van Persie shooting straight at Adrian after chesting down Di Maria's angled pass in the 53rd minute.

Radamel Falcao missed the target with a header in the 54th minute, and Van Persie had a shot blocked from a promising position three minutes later.

The visitors missed a fine chance to equalise in the 77th minute. Falcao headed down a long pass and played a one-two with Van Persie to beat his marker in the box. But with only Adrian to beat, Falcao shot harmlessly wide.

Adrian made a good save in the 83rd minute, kicking away a Van Persie drive at his near post to maintain his side's lead.

At the other end, De Gea made two saves in the 87th minute to keep Manchester United in the match. First, the Spaniard pushed away Noble's first-time shot. Then, he tipped Kevin Nolan's effort around the post.

Manchester United came close again in the 90th minute as substitute Marouane Fellaini brought down a high ball inside the box, turned and shot on goal. Adrian dived to his right to save at his near post.

Wayne Rooney had another chance to pull Manchester United level in stoppage time, but his free-kick from just outside the box was blocked.

But just when it looked like Manchester United were doomed to defeat, the equaliser finally arrived.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Marcos Rojo lofted a pass into the box as the visitors searched desperately for a goal. West Ham's Carl Jenkinson tried to head clear, but the ball fell to Blind, who hit a bouncing volley past Adrian for the equaliser.

Manchester United were clearly buoyed, but the visitors went down to 10 men moments later as Luke Shaw drew a red card for his second booking of the match. 

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Adrian	7.3
Carl Jenkinson	5.7
James Tomkins	7.6
Cheikhou Kouyate	8.9
Aaron Cresswell	7.1
Mark Noble	7.2
Alex Song	7.3
Kevin Nolan	7.0
Stewart Downing	6.9
Enner Valencia	6.9
Diafra Sakho	6.7
Matthew Jarvis (for Valencia, 84')	6.0

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
David De Gea	7.5
Antonio Valencia	7.5
Phil Jones	8.1
Marcos Rojo	7.6
Luke Shaw	7.3
Adnan Januzaj	6.3
Daley Blind	7.6
Wayne Rooney	7.0
Angel Di Maria	6.5
Radamel Falcao	6.2
Robin van Persie	7.2
Marouane Fellaini (for Januzaj, 72')	6.4
Chris Smalling (for Falcao, 90')	6.0

Reaction

Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind (via BBC Sport): 

"

The first half was a battle and we couldn't play the ball how we wanted. We started the second half well then their goal came and then we had to fight again for the good moments. We showed we can fight but we are not happy with the draw.

"

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble (via BBC Sport): 

"

It's feels like a loss. It shows how far we have come that we are gutted we drew with Manchester United. In many spells I thought we were the better team and just couldn't hold out until the end. You can't switch off against these top teams because they will punish you and that's what happened.

"