Manchester United slipped to a poor home draw to see out their Old Trafford campaign for the season. Mason Greenwood cancelled out Antonio’s first half goal, but the Red Devils were far from impressive against David Moyes’ West Ham.

“We know now we’ve got two cup finals to play,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said prior to kick-off. And his team at least treated it with a little more intensity that Sunday’s semi-final. But ‘a little’ is the phrase to note. It was better, but that is to damn with faint praise.

There was a false start when United looked as if they were in the mood to exorcise the weekend’s ghost – Martial and Greenwood both had testers from a safe distance for Fabianski.

But that was that, already, when it came to invention. The Hammers quickly established their own comfort and were rewarded for their own confident attitude when they were awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time. The word inexplicable was surely created, or at least added to football lexicon, for purposes such as Paul Pogba’s decision to handball a free-kick in the box. Antonio’s kick was not struck with conviction but David De Gea’s dive to save it was even less convincing.

A greater purpose compelled the hosts after the break and an equaliser was quickly forthcoming. Martial and Greenwood smartly combined for the latter to finish with aplomb. 

The hope that United would push on was ill-placed. Declan Rice hit a couple of long range efforts to show an indication of the visitor’s intent. United’s intent was there, but the capability was not. There was tiredness but also a distinct lack of ability to break down a defence that didn’t have to be much more than organised. 

This has been an indictment of United teams in the post-Ferguson era and Solskjaer will be hoping it won’t let him down at the last. A draw was all his side deserved.

Lowering expectations

So we head into the weekend now knowing a draw will be enough to qualify for the Champions League. That would have been the case whatever the result tonight, so in practical terms, the result did not make any material effect. United could have won and been in this position.

But to take heart from that is to pretend that we have not been in this position multiple times, not only this season, but in recent years. Where United have something in their own destiny only to give it away. Against these same opponents in their last game at Upton Park, there was a capitulation which more or less cost Louis van Gaal his job. Solskjaer may well feel like he has to praise these players to try and eke more out of them for the Leicester game, but they may not be capable, and he might instead feel like Homer Simpson with his hands around Bart’s neck if they blow it at the King Power Stadium, which they seem absolutely capable of doing at the moment.

So you balance it – there was a rejuvenation in this season which has pulled the top 4 back in to contention. Let’s remember that was the minimum aim at the start of this season, and Ole – as much as he has been responsible for the good – has to equally share the blame for the bad, of which there was much before the winter, and of which there is now much creeping back in.

With each passing game, the excuse of tiredness wears thin (though theoretically it should grow), and the idea of United being serious title challengers in years to come creeps up from being two or three players away to five or six. 

For what it’s worth in this writer’s opinion – Ole has done enough to deserve more time, and another transfer window, but it is a big question mark whether he can make the necessary changes before the start of the new season to make a tangible difference, and it’s a strong enough question mark against him whether or not he is the man to get more out of them. There has been progress. But these problems are all-too-familiar. Bad habits are hard to kick, but kick them these players must if their careers at Old Trafford are to deserve mention with some of the greats.

This was not prime Real Madrid. This was a West Ham team struggling at the wrong end of the table who have had the same difficulties as them. It’s a worrying sign.

Selection

Ole can be forgiven for knackering out those players tonight. In a way. They had to provide a response from the weekend, or at least they had to be given the chance to try, and they failed. Perhaps the manager will see this backfiring if United are flat at Leicester. But there were no guarantees either way and, at this point, what will be will be.

Ratings

De Gea 6

Fosu-Mensah 5

Lindelof 6

Maguire 6

Williams 6

Matic  5

Pogba 5

Fernandes 5

Greenwood 6

Martial 6

Rashford 5

Subs :

Wan-Bissaka 6

Ighalo