Manchester United’s draw at home to West Ham was another missed opportunity to climb higher in the table.
1-0 up against West Ham with 20 minutes remaining, Manchester United were on course to move up from 9th to 5th in the Premier League table.
Poor marking from a corner kick saw United concede an equaliser, ending the night in 8th place.
With just one point from the last two home fixtures, United will likely rue this poor result later in the season.
Who was Man Utd’s Man of the Match vs West Ham?
Manchester United attack a corner against West Ham
Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images
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After drawing 1-1 against a team in the relegation zone, there is plenty to unpick from Ruben Amorim’s decisions.
Here is a look at four things Ruben Amorim got wrong against West Ham…
Manchester United concede goal vs West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Midfield sub
Just like in the game against Tottenham, Manchester United took the lead and failed to build on the advantage, having to settle for a draw.
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And once again, Amorim made a defensive substitution in midfield by bringing on Manuel Ugarte.
The Uruguayan has had an awful record this season when he has played, and there was no need to be so defensive in approach.
With Casemiro kept on, Amorim would have been far better to bring on Kobbie Mainoo, who could have taken a more proactive approach in midfield.
United needed to go for the kill, but instead the team relaxed. This substitution encapsulated everything that was wrong with Amorim’s approach.
What is your MESSAGE to Ruben Amorim after the 1-1 draw vs West Ham?
“We had good moments and we lost a little bit of control after the goal. We should have closed the game when we scored the first one.”
Ruben Amorim
Manchester United v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
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Taking Diogo Dalot off
Diogo Dalot has come into a little bit of form, impressive against Crystal Palace, and finally scoring his first ever goal at Old Trafford against West Ham.
What does Ruben Amorim do? He substituted Dalot nine minutes after scoring.
It was a strange decision considering how well Dalot was playing. He was high in confidence after scoring, and did not want to come off.
Patrick Dorgu has been out of form and he lacked a cutting edge going forward. Amorim would have been better off sticking with Dalot.
Dalot is also strong at set pieces defensively, and his absence could have contributed to the equaliser.
Diogo Dalot scored his first goal for Man Utd since 2024 – Was Amorim wrong to take him off?
This was Dalot's fourth Man Utd goal, and his first EVER at Old Trafford
“It’s an instant kill on his first touch. He still has a lot to do. A brilliant moment for him and a great finish.”
Gary Neville on Diogo Dalot’s goal
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Matheus Cunha over Mason Mount
The big selection dilemma ahead of kick-off was whether to bring Matheus Cunha straight back into the starting XI after missing the last two games with injury.
Amorim chose to do so, while leaving Mason Mount on the bench.
This came just days after Mount’s winning goal for Manchester United against Palace.
The decision did not work out. Cunha was United’s least threatening attacker, he is struggling to show the prolific form he did at Wolves.
Mount offered little when he came on and struggled to get into the game – but if he was able to carry on the momentum from the weekend, the result could have been different.
NO substitute striker
Once again, Ruben Amorim lacked options on the bench to try and change the game.
Last season he chose to involve teenage striker Chido Obi, but this season the young forward cannot even get onto the bench.
Amorim needs to start giving himself options to change games. From the five substitutions he brought on, three were defenders, and two were midfielders.
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