Manchester United's flawless start under interim manager Michael Carrick came to a dramatic conclusion on Tuesday night, as the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited West Ham United side at the London Stadium. While the result halts Carrick's four-match winning streak since taking charge in January 2026, a stoppage-time equalizer from substitute Benjamin Sesko ensured United remained unbeaten, keeping their top-four ambitions firmly on track.

Carrick's Perfect Start Halted in East London

Since replacing Ruben Amorim last month, Michael Carrick has overseen a remarkable turnaround at Old Trafford. With four consecutive victories—including statement wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham—the interim boss had restored confidence to a squad that looked disjointed earlier in the season. However, Tuesday's clash against relegation-threatened West Ham proved to be the sternest test of his short tenure.

For much of the evening, it appeared Carrick's honeymoon period would end in defeat. West Ham, desperate for points to climb out of the bottom three, stifled United's creativity and dominated the midfield battle. The Hammers took a deserved lead in the 50th minute when Tomas Soucek powered home a header from a Jarrod Bowen cross, exposing frailties in United's set-piece defending.

"We weren't at our best today, and we know that," Carrick admitted in his post-match interview. "Credit to West Ham, they made it difficult for us to find our rhythm. But the character the boys showed to keep going until the 96th minute tells you everything about the spirit in this dressing room right now."

Sesko Strikes Late to Save a Point

With Man Utd results improving significantly in recent weeks, expectations were high, but the visitors struggled to break down Nuno Espirito Santo's disciplined low block. Casemiro saw a header ruled out for offside by VAR in the 65th minute, a moment that seemed to sum up a frustrating night for the visitors.

Carrick turned to his bench, introducing Benjamin Sesko in the 68th minute for Matheus Cunha. The Slovenian striker, who joined from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025, has developed a reputation as a "super-sub" this season. He lived up to that tag deep into stoppage time. With United throwing bodies forward, Bryan Mbeumo delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Sesko reacted sharpest, flicking a stunning volley past the helpless West Ham goalkeeper to silence the home crowd and salvage a 1-1 draw.

The goal was Sesko's fifth in his last six appearances, cementing his status as one of the most lethal finishers in the league. His impact has been crucial for Carrick, offering a different dimension to the attack when the starting game plan hits a wall.

West Ham's Relegation Battle Continues

For West Ham, the result felt like a defeat. The Hammers remain in 18th place in the Premier League 2026 standings, two points adrift of safety. Nuno Espirito Santo was visibly dejected at the final whistle, having seen his side mere seconds away from a vital victory.

"It is a cruel game," Nuno said. "To contain a team like Manchester United for 95 minutes is not easy. One moment of loss of concentration costs us two points. We must pick ourselves up quickly."

Premier League 2026 Standings and Top 4 Race

Despite dropping points, the draw keeps Manchester United in 4th place, maintaining a buffer over 5th-placed Chelsea. The point could prove vital in the context of the season, especially given the competitive nature of the European spots this year. Carrick's ability to grind out results even when the performance level drops is a trait reminiscent of the Sir Alex Ferguson era—a comparison the interim boss is trying to downplay but one that fans are increasingly making.

Premier League highlights from the other midweek fixtures saw Aston Villa strengthen their grip on 3rd place, while Liverpool dropped points away at Brentford. This makes United's late point even more valuable, ensuring they didn't lose ground on the teams directly above them.

What's Next for Manchester United?

The focus now shifts to the weekend, where United will look to return to winning ways. The draw against West Ham serves as a reality check that the "new manager bounce" under Carrick won't solve every tactical issue overnight. The integration of summer signings like Senne Lammens in goal—who made two crucial saves to keep the score at 1-0—and the continued form of Sesko will be key as the season enters its critical final third.

For fans following Manchester United news, the narrative remains positive. An unbeaten run of nine games (five under Carrick) suggests the ship has been steadied. Whether Carrick does enough to earn the permanent job remains the biggest question at Old Trafford, but rescuing a point from a losing position is exactly the kind of resilience the board will be watching for.