Manchester United vs. West Ham: Score, Reaction from 2015 Premier League Match

Manchester United slipped to fourth in the Premier League after being held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham United at Old Trafford on Saturday. The Red Devils failed to take full advantage of neighbours Manchester City's slip at Stoke City.

Old Trafford chief Louis van Gaal dealt with the absence of striker Wayne Rooney by trusting youth. That meant starts for young attackers, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.

The squad was also notable for the inclusion of Belgian target man Marouane Fellaini. His presence was perhaps a hint of how United intended to attack the Hammers through the air.

Sky Sports Football Twitter provided the full XI:

West Ham countered with their own aerial focal point leading the line. Andy Carroll started up top, in front of a midfield not lacking for brawn, in the form of Alex Song and Cheikhou Kouyate:

Fellaini proved a nuisance early on. United's official Twitter feed detailed one chance for the former Everton man:

But the visitors soon posed their own problems. Jet-heeled winger Victor Moses drew a fine stop from goalkeeper David De Gea. The Hammers were then undone by the woodwork twice in quick succession.

Mauro Zarate blocked a Chris Smalling clearance, causing the deflected ball to smash off the post. Centre-back Winston Reid then headed a corner onto the upright, as United barely hung on.

An injury to Moses stunted West Ham's play somewhat, but United were unable to take advantage as a fairly stale half from the home side ran its course.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Van Gaal's team had been content to go long Fellaini's way for much of the opening 45 minutes. But they needed to be a little more subtle after the break.

Yet, there wasn't much ingenuity at the start of the second half. United were again limited to long, speculative shots from distance, with Lingard thrashing over the bar.

But United soon began to apply more threatening pressure. Fellaini drew a fine save from Adrian, while Juan Mata also came close for the hosts.

Despite the chances, though, there wasn't much urgency in United's passing. Meanwhile, Zarate and Co. still looked dangerous on the break.

Lingard should have opened the scoring but squandered a very inviting opportunity. As for Martial, the Frenchman was struggling to impose himself.

West Ham withdrew Zarate for full-back Carl Jenkinson but remained a threat on the counter. But the score finished deadlocked.

The result and the performance was met with hostility from the Old Trafford faithful, according to BBC 5 Live Sport commentator Ian Dennis:

One more stalemate is certainly an indictment of United's goalscoring problems at home this season. Data from Squawka will make for depressing reading for fans of the Reds:

Van Gaal will have to answer for another tame effort going forward. 

Post-Match Reaction

Van Gaal went on the offensive after the match. He expressed confusion that United fans were dissatisfied with his team's efforts going forward, according to Squawka News:

United's players also vented their frustrations, but directed them at their own performances. Centre-back Chris Smalling bemoaned the missed opportunity in the title race:

Fellow defender Daley Blind chose to lament his team's inability to be clinical in front of goal:

His sentiment was echoed by his manager:

Van Gaal and Blind's gripe is supported by numbers from Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News, numbers that suggest the Dutchman's tactics aren't to blame for the draw:

Instead, those numbers suggest United lack the necessary star power up front to make things work.

By contrast, Slaven Bilic welcomed a valuable point from another creditable away showing. He was particularly pleased with his side's stingy form at the back, according to the Hammers' official Twitter account:

Bilic was especially proud of how his depleted squad coped with injuries to still earn the draw:

The Hammers are now up to the heady heights of sixth, a position that owes everything to their impressive form against the division's big boys this season:

United are far from out of the title race, despite two dropped points. But the results and performances are not matching their ambition.

Van Gaal has to encourage a more daring approach to games at Old Trafford. The defensive solidity he has created will prove invaluable over the course of the season. But greater attacking intent has to be obvious in the games United are expected to win.

Getting that balance right will likely weigh heavy on Van Gaal's mind ahead of Tuesday's pivotal UEFA Champions League clash with Wolfsburg and the upcoming domestic battle with Bournemouth.