Premier LeagueManchester United 1-1 West Ham United
Wednesday, 3rd December 2025
by Chris Wilkerson | Forum match thread
West Ham came back from a goal behind to draw 1-1 at Old Trafford, but remain in the bottom three after a week that saw relegation rivals Leeds rise above them. A point at Manchester United was only enough to have them two points from safety, but confidence will be raised as the side fought back from a goal down.
After Diogo Dalot had scored halfway through the second half, a late goal from Soungoutou Magassa, his first for the club, got The Hammers a point they deserved for their hard work and endeavour.Whilst they struggled again to create chances, their effort deserved a point, and they went toe-to-toe with their hosts throughout.
Nuno Espirito Santo made one change to the West Ham team, replacing the suspended Paqueta with the always reliable Tomas Soucek, although it was a bit of a surprise to see the big Czech midfielder operating off the right as Bowen played behind Wilson in more of a '10' role.
The Hammers started brightly, looking the better of the two sides in the opening 20 minutes, but struggling to turn this into anything much to threaten goal. It gave the home side a chance to settle into a rhythm, and they started to create.
Mbeumo forced a very good save from Areola after a short corner was clipped back to him coming off the right wing. He tried to curl it high into the far corner over the goalkeeper, but the Frenchman did well to tip it over his bar as it looked to be floating over him.
Moments later, he was saved by the excellent Wan-Bissaka, who was superb defensively. Amad had beaten Diouf around the right side of the area, and when he cut it back, Zirkzee was able to guide it at goal off his thigh.
Areola was beaten, but Wan-Bissaka had moved back to the goal line and was there to head the ball away as it looped towards him. Fernandes returned it with an acrobatic volley, only to see his effort clip the outside of the post.
The hosts had taken over, but Bowen reminded them of the threat going the other way. The captain darted and bounced between two when coming in off the right wing, then dancing between two more in the box, but he failed to get a clean connection with his right boot when shooting, the shot looping up comfortably for Lammens in the Manchester United goal.
As a half-time 0-0 was on the horizon, West Ham fans may have bemoaned the honesty of Soucek, who darted onto a ball in the home side's penalty area and could not have been criticised for going down under a loose challenge. Instead he stayed on his feet, caught by Mazroaui, and West Ham won a corner that was headed clear.
The two sides were level at the break, with The Hammers encouraged by a decent start and then managing to repel the pressure of the home side, whilst Manchester United will think they could have easily been a goal up after a dangerous final 20 minutes of the half.
Nuno kept things the same at the break, whilst Amorim replaced Heaven with Yoro in the centre of defence, the young centre back booked in the first half.
Their threat was down their right, with Amad and Mbeumo silky and industrious to go with their speed. Todibo did well to cover Diouf, who was struggling with the pace both wide men ran at him.
Magassa hit his side's first shot of the second half, bursting forward from midfield to run beyond Wilson, but his effort smashed into the sidenetting. It was enough to raise the voices of the away fans, but they were silenced a minute later.
It was a nothing goal, really. A shot from the edge of the box was half-blocked on its way to goal, but the deflection took it right to the feet of Dalot in the West Ham box, and the wing back swivelled to fire home from eight yards out to give his team a lead they had done nothing to deserve in the 10 minutes of the second half.
The manager had little to turn to, his bench full mostly of kids and unwanted squad players. Who knows where Guilherme and Fullkrug were, but it was not with the squad.
The Hammers responded well, pushing back and not letting the goal knock their confidence, but they struggled again with creating any real chances.
Mbeumo should have been booked for a dive after Todibo took away a dangled leg and the forward fell over it anyway, but the Hammers were happy to see the follow-up effort from Cunha deflected over as the Brazilian strolled onto the loose ball and fired at goal.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, the manager went to his rather bare bench. His answer to being a goal behind was to send on Andy Irving and give Mohamadou Kante a debut, replacing Potts and Soucek.
And it worked instantly! Irving came on and took a corner with his first touch, and after Bowen's near post header was cleared off the line by Mazroaui, it fell to Magassa, who kept his calm and slotted it into the back of the net to score his first West Ham United goal, and get his side back on level terms with six minutes remaining. It capped off what was comfortably his best appearance in a West Ham shirt.
A minute later, Bowen got down the right side of the box and slid a ball across the face of goal, only to find nobody gambling into the six-yard box. Suddenly, West Ham were all over their hosts, Kante blasting wide seconds later as he flicked one up and took on the volley.
It was a surprise to see Kilman come on for Wilson straight after, with Bowen going up top and the manager looking to ensure his team did not stay too open and throw away what they had clawed back.
Into stoppage time, Manchester United were back on top. A low cross was palmed out by Areola, and fell to Fernandes, but the usually reliable Portuguese fluffed his lines when he looked set to score.
And it was him who had the last chance of the game. An angled diagonal ball into the box from the left was not headed clear by Todibo, instead back further into his own area, and Fernandes reacted to it. But he could not control his volley from a right angle, and it was the last action of the game as West Ham took a deserved point on their travels.
It leaves The Hammers in 18th, two points behind Leeds, but undoubtedly with a lift of confidence. The midfield deserve credit, with Potts and Magassa proving once again that they belong at this level. Wan-Bissaka was fantastic, whilst Bowen was irrepressible in attack and deserved the assist.
A goal down at Old Trafford, they could have wilted. That they didn't should be encouraging for all, and shows this team has the fight for the battle they will face for the rest of this season.
Manager's Rating
Nuno Espirito Santo: 7/10 Still yet to win away from home under Nuno, but that's the first time we've gone a goal down at Old Trafford in the Premier League and not lost. He's instilling belief and endeavour into this side, but he's going to need some transfers before he can sustain an attacking threat. His bench was weak, his team far from perfect, but he's inspired enough to get them a point.
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Click to view all West Ham United vs Manchester United match reports Click to view all match reports by Chris Wilkerson Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.Player Ratings
Alphonse AreolaOne very good saves and a couple good ones, although he could have thrown it away when palming a cross out to Fernandes late on.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
An excellent performance, although he was lucky to stay on the pitch after a sliding challenge late on took Dorgu down when he was already on a yellow. A goal line clearance, some fantastic challenges and clearing headers.
El Hadji Malick Diouf
Got better, but struggled with the acceleration of Amad, and was often dealing with two with speed as Mbeumo doubled up. Lacked an attacking presence.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Another good performance from Todibo, who has shown his true quality since coming back into the side under Nuno. Took on responsibility to cover Diouf, which settled the young left back down.
Konstantinos Mavropanos
Defended well in the air as the home side looked to profit on corners and long throws.
Freddie Potts
Another composed performance, and the best one as a clear pair with Magassa. Strong, decisive, with keen awareness for danger around him, whilst showing his eye for a forward pass.
Soungoutou Magassa
It was his best West Ham performance even before his goal, the midfielder clearly enjoying getting into combative battles in the middle of the park. He was strong and eager to defend, making the most tackles (four) and most interceptions (five) of any player on the pitch. And then he slotted home his goal with a first-time finish.
Tomas Soucek
Battled and fought to get up and down, but did get lost at times as he tried to operate from a narrow right-sided position. He was a good influence defensively.
Mateus Fernandes
Clearly doesn't want to be operating off the left, but does it dutifully. His best moments came as he carried through the middle.
Jarrod Bowen
Looked more like himself, but is still far too heavily relied upon to run the whole attack himself. The front post flick deserved a goal, but at least it ended up an assist.
Callum Wilson
Worked hard and offered a presence up front that nobody else in the squad really matches, but that little step of pace he's lost limits his threat.
Substitutes
Mohamadou Kante(Potts 83') Didn't get much time to make an impact, but at least physically was able to battle with seasoned pros.
Andy Irving
(Soucek 83') His first touch was the corner that led to the goal. After a string of bad ones, Irving delivered better than all with his.
Max Kilman
(Wilson 87') On to shore up the defence for the final, few moments.
Mads Hermansen
Did not play.
Kyle Walker-Peters
Did not play.
Ezra Mayers
Did not play.
Guido Rodriguez
Did not play.
Geroge Earthy
Did not play.
Callum Marshall
Did not play.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa, Tomas Soucek, Mateus Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen, Callum Wilson.Goals: Soungoutoo Magassa 83 .
Booked: El Hadji Malick Diouf 0 Aaron Wan-Bissaka 0 .
Sent Off: None sent off. .
Manchester United: Lammens, Dalot (Dorgu 68), Mazraoui, Heaven (Yoro HT), Shaw (Martínez 87), Casemiro, Fernandes (c), Amad, Mbeumo, Cunha (Ugarte 77), Zirkzee (Mount 77).
Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, Mainoo, Lacey.
Goals: Dalot (58).
Booked: Heaven, Shaw.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Andrew Kitchen.
Attendance: 73,938.
Man of the Match: Aaron Wan-Bissaka.