Man United’s season saved, for now, as they rescue FA Cup draw against West Ham

Manchester United 1 West Ham 1

Seemingly on their way out of the Europa League following a dismal showing in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Liverpool, their hopes of turning around a 2-0 deficit in the return on Thursday night look as flimsy as their prospects of finishing in the Premier League’s top four to secure Champions League football next season.

Their chances of salvaging something from the campaign and either earning manager Louis van Gaal a reprieve or allowing him to ride into the sunset of retirement in the summer with his head held high therefore appeared to rest on progressing to the FA Cup semi-finals and keeping alive the prospect of winning the competition for the first time since 2004.