Nuno Espirito Santo was ultimately to blame as West Ham threw away yet another victory in the dying moments of the 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The Hammers have now dropped 20 points from winning positions under Nuno Espirito Santo after West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Man United at the London Stadium.
Tomas Soucek’s goal had looked set to pull the Hammers level on points with 17th placed Nottingham Forest.
The much-loathed London Stadium was bouncing with fans reacting to the team’s hugely improved performances of late.
Scapegoat Soucek so close to being West Ham saviour
Nuno has come in for criticism for some of his team selection and tactical decisions, especially in-game changes.
Is it any wonder given the Irons have thrown away half a season’s worth of points when in the lead?
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Pick your Man of the Match!
And the manager must take a large share of the blame for West Ham once again surrendering at the death as Benjamin Sesko scored in the sixth of seven minutes added on at the end of a game which really came to life in the second half.
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It was a superb finish from a seemingly impossible angle.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham United against Manchester United.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
But the situation which led to the goal stemmed from and infuriating Nuno obsession which has cost West Ham another crucial win.
The point is a positive for the Hammers, especially as the Man United game was not one of six games Nuno is targeting as must-wins for West Ham to survive.
The result was particularly cruel on goalscorer Soucek who was absolutely everywhere all night and hands down man of the match.
Nuno’s obsession with subbing off his full-backs every game has ended up costing the Hammers, though.
Infuriating Nuno obsession costs West Ham crucial win
Ollie Scarles came on for the excellent El Hadji Malick Diouf.
And Scarles backed off Bryan Mbeumo, then naively showed him onto his preferred left foot on the edge of the box.
A DEVASTATING finale! 😩
Give us your immediate reaction after two points are snatched away…
Tomas Soucek of West Ham United celebrates 1st goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, England.
Mbeumo then delivered a delicate cross for Sesko to apply the finish into the top corner.
Some will ask questions of Mads Hermansen but Alphonse Areola would have struggled to save it given how precisely placed the finish was.
West Ham need to pull a few rabbits out of the hat to get out of the position they are in.
Losing at Chelsea when winning 2-0 and now dropping another two points against Man United mean West Ham remain 18th with 12 games to go instead of being three points above Forest right now.
West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo gestures on the touchline
Photo by Ian Kington / AFP via Getty Images
There was no need for Nuno to bring on Scarles or Kyle Walker-Peters.
He must be saved from himself by the other coaching staff because it could be the difference between West Ham staying up or being relegated.
West Ham player ratings vs Man United:
Mads Hermansen: 7/10, Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 8/10, Konstantinos Mavropanos: 8/10, Axel Disasi: 8/10, El Hadji Malick Diouf: 8/10, Tomas Soucek: 10/10, Mateus Fernandes: 9/10, Freddie Potts: 7/10, Crysencio Summerville: 8.5/10, Jarrod Bowen: 9/10, Taty Castellanos: 7/10.
Subs: Callum Wilson: 8/10, Ollie Scarles: 6/10, Soungoutou Magassa: 6.5/10, Adama Traore: 6/10, Kyle Walker-Peters: 6/10.
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