Michael Carrick admitted his frustration after a lacklustre Manchester United needed a 93rd minute Benjamin Sesko equaliser to salvage a point at struggling West Ham. The late strike preserved Carrick’s unbeaten start, but the performance left the interim boss wanting far more.
United were second best for large parts at the London Stadium and fell behind to a scrappy Tomas Soucek goal early in the second half. It took until the dying moments of stoppage time for Sesko to fire home, rescuing a 1-1 draw and sparing United’s blushes against a side entrenched in the relegation zone.
“I think we were a little disappointed and we were definitely not at our best. It’s times like that when you find a way and move on. I’m a little frustrated at that,” Carrick said afterwards. “It is a tough place to come and we didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers. Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”
The performance was a stark contrast to the fluid, confident displays that had marked Carrick’s first four wins. The cohesion in attack vanished, with passes going astray and movement looking laboured against a determined West Ham side. While the spirit to fight until the end earned a point, Carrick knows the level must improve.
One major positive was the form of Sesko. The much maligned summer signing netted his fifth goal in six games, a clinical finish when it mattered most. “Fantastic finish. He has done it again. It is important. It is a great finish. Delighted for him. Another big goal and a good step,” Carrick said of the Slovenian striker.
The draw keeps United in fourth, but it feels like two points dropped with rivals Tottenham and Aston Villa both winning in midweek. The result also leaves West Ham in deep trouble, a fact not lost on their former midfielder. “I would love them to stay up,” Carrick added. “It was a big part of my life and I have great memories here so hopefully they stay up.”
For Carrick, the late escape papers over cracks. The momentum from his electric start has stuttered. With a crucial run of fixtures ahead, United must rediscover their sharpness and fast, if this interim spell is to become anything more permanent.
