Robin swoops to snatch point for United

West Ham United 2 Manchester United 2

The 20th title will undoubtedly come sooner rather than later — requiring just six points from five games, it’s unthinkable that it won’t — but when it does arrive, it will be accompanied by an unexpected sense of relief after it took a controversial Robin van Persie equaliser to prevent a second defeat in three games.

Champions elect they may be, but Alex Ferguson’s side were offered no favours by a West Ham team with their eyes now set on a top half finish and who appeared set for an impressive victory thanks to Mohamed Diame’s excellent 55th minute before Van Persie levelled 13 minutes from time.

Manchester City’s victory over Wigan added to the visitors’ sense of gratitude the assistant referee failed to spot Van Persie was in an offside position. “It was blatant,” said Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager. “The decision has cost us a famous victory.”

Antonio Valencia had cancelled out Ricardo Vaz Te’s opening goal and late United pressure might have inflicted more misery on Allardyce and his players but a victory for the visitors would have been fortunate although Ferguson declared himself satisfied. “I thought we played like champions,” he said. “We’ve five games left, three at home. The players have shown they want it, There’s no doubt about it.”

The manager was being generous. Epitomising United’s unconvincing performance was Wayne Rooney, whose indifferent display in a midfield role was brought to an end with 19 minutes to go, a decision that will do little to silence speculation the player could depart for Paris St Germain this summer.

West Ham’s start confirmed their growing confidence and was certainly not that of a side still harbouring anxieties that the mathematics confirming their safety had yet to be resolved, Pressing forward from the opening whistle, Andy Carroll quickly showed he would be a pivotal figure in this game by repeatedly unsettling Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, the United centre backs, particularly when he twisted and turned to create the opening for a shot that drifted narrowly wide.

The forward — who Ferguson claimed should have been sent off for a challenge on keeper David De Gea — then made a more significant contribution, setting up Vaz Te for the home side’s deserved 17th minute opening goal.

Pouncing on the loose ball deep in his own half, the powerful Diame led the breakaway, surging forward through the middle of the field before releasing Matt Jarvis on the left. The winger advanced into the box, wrong-footing Ferdinand with an ease that made a mockery of recent calls for an international recall for the 34-year old, before standing a cross up towards Carroll at the far post. The striker inevitably won the heading, directing the ball down towards Vaz Te who dived in bravely to head past David De Gea.

United lacked vigour, apparently operating in the comfort zone their commanding lead at the head of the table has afforded them.

When they did finally burst into life, though, they did so with an incisiveness and precision that left West Ham floundering before Valencia completed the move by rolling home the 31st-minute equaliser.

Robin Van Persie skipped past Guy Demel, the home right back, then moved the ball inside to Shinji Kagawa who demonstrated similar poise in reaching the byline and rolling a low cross towards Valencia lurking alone just five yards out.

Moments later Van Persie should have given United the lead when he wastefully headed wide after out-jumping James Collins to connect with Phil Jones’ right-wing cross but West ham’s first half endeavours meant they deservedly reached the break on level terms, even if Carroll’s final contribution before the break sparked an angry reaction from Ferguson and his staff.

Allardyce had clearly instructed his players to pressurise David De Gea at corners and, after referee Lee Probert had spent some time trying to bring order to the wrestling tag match taking place around the keeper, Carroll’s attempt to connect with Matt Jarvis’ cross succeeded only in flooring the young Spaniard and his team-mate Patrice Evra.

As frustrating as that was, the visitors had something more substantial to concern themselves with 10 minutes after break when Diame conjured a goal out of nothing, collecting Demel’s pass before striking a superb, curling shot on the turn that found its way inside De Gea’s right hand post, with the keeper stranded.

As West Ham tired, United began to dominate, particularly after Ryan Gigs had replaced Rooney, and the equaliser came when Shinji Kagawa’s shot struck both posts and Van Persie pounced on the rebound.

WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1): Jaaskelainen 9; Demel 7, Collins 7, Reid 6, O’Brien 6; O’Neil 7 (Noble 68, 6), Diame 9 (Collison 82, 6); Vaz Te 6, Nolan 6 (Taylor 82, 6), Jarvis 7; Carroll 8.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Da Silva 7, Ferdinand 6, Vidic 8, Evra 6; Carrick 7, Jones 5; Valencia 6, Rooney 5 (Giggs 71, 6), Kagawa 7 (Hernandez 79, 6); Van Persie 8.

Referee: Lee Probert.