The result denied the Hammers a vital victory in their battle for Premier League survival.

With England manager Thomas Tuchel in attendance, West Ham looked rejuvenated after the interval. Tomas Soucek had given the hosts the lead five minutes after half-time, tapping in from close range after Jarrod Bowen bullied Luke Shaw to create the opening. The goal came during a far more eventful second half, in stark contrast to a tight opening period.

United, fourth in the table under Michael Carrick, had controlled the majority of possession before the break.

Their best chance arrived from a well-worked corner routine, only for an inspired Aaron Wan-Bissaka - facing his former side - to clear Shaw's effort off the line.

The visitors thought they had equalised in the 62nd minute when Brazilian midfielder Casemiro headed home, but a VAR review ruled the effort offside by the narrowest of calls.

As West Ham chased three points that would have drawn them level with 17th-place Nottingham Forest, substitute Sesko intervened. The forward came off the bench and struck in the 96th minute, registering his second injury-time goal in three substitute appearances to snatch a point.

The late leveller not only prevented West Ham from moving up the table but also halted United's bid for a fifth consecutive league win.

"[I'm] disappointed, of course, all of us [are]," Nuno said.

"The players, the fans, and ourselves are disappointed to take this final goal in the final moments of the game.

"We competed really well. We've been able to contain a very good team that was in a good dynamic. You can see the quality, the effort of the players, the organisation.

"The way we started the second half was really positive. We went, we scored. We defended really well. It was a good chance. But overall, a very positive performance on the defensive aspect of the game.

"Also, in the final moments, we had two or three situations with a good space in behind that. We should have put the game to bed."

Meanwhile, Carrick admitted that his charges fell short of their best, saying: "Mixed feelings,. We know we weren't quite at our best, and credit West Ham for that, closing certain spaces up, but we can be better.

"The boys were a bit frustrated and disappointed, with that, which is a really good sign for me. And then finishing with a late goal when we've had to find one is a good moment, and another positive for us to know that we can do that.

"And we don't want to have to pull on it and use it too often but in the grand scheme, there's a point, something we can take, and we kind of dust ourselves down a little bit, assess it, take these games off, a five-game period, and to just have one draw in there is a big positive."

Emotional Innocent Maela wishes Thembinkosi Lorch well at Downs