West Ham left Old Trafford with a valuable point after a late equaliser from Sounga Magassa secured a 1–1 draw against Manchester United. Amorim’s side had controlled long spells and led through Diogo Dalot, but a resilient West Ham performance — capped by a set-piece goal in the closing minutes — ensured Nuno Espírito Santo’s team kept their survival hopes alive.
Had United held their lead, they would have climbed to fifth in the table. Instead, they were left frustrated after Bruno Fernandes squandered two golden chances deep into stoppage time. For West Ham, the result extends their winless away run under Nuno, but given their position in the bottom three, it is undeniably a step forward.
Captain Jarrod Bowen emphasised the significance of the response after last week’s disappointment, praising the team’s mentality and work-rate.
Bowen: “You can’t be too disheartened when you go a goal down”
Bowen told Sky Sports he was proud of the reaction:
“We always knew it was going to be a difficult game. We wanted to show a reaction… I was really proud of the team. The way they fought, the way they ran, and got a deserved point.” — Jarrod Bowen
He highlighted belief as the key factor:
“In the Premier League you can’t be too disheartened when you go a goal down. There’s still a lot of time to play and we have to believe.”
Bowen also celebrated Magassa’s first goal for the club:
“He deserves it so much. I’m really happy for him.”
Having followed West Ham’s season closely, the contrast from recent away performances was stark — this time the structure held, transitions were sharper, and the team showed far more resilience under pressure.
Bowen’s numbers vs Manchester United
| Stat (2025/26) | Jarrod Bowen |
|---|---|
| Accurate Passes | 14/21 (67%) |
| Successful Dribbles | 3/4 |
| Recoveries | 4 |
| Ground Duels (won) | 9/16 |
| Shots on Target | 2 |
| Shots Blocked | 2 |
| Big Chances Missed | 1 |
| xG | 0.25 |
source: Sofascore match data – 4 December 2025
These figures underline his all-action performance. Bowen drove the press, carried the ball through United’s lines and constantly threatened in transition. While he will regret the missed big chance, his influence across the pitch was immense.
A draw that carries more weight than a point
In our view, this is one of West Ham’s most encouraging away performances under Nuno. Although some may argue United gifted them a route back, other indicators — including duel dominance and late pressure — suggest West Ham earned every bit of the draw.
A nuance worth noting: the structure finally resembled Nuno’s Wolves-era resilience, with midfield distances tighter and defensive transitions far cleaner than in recent matches.
If West Ham can replicate this level consistently, climbing out of the bottom three becomes far more realistic.
Key insights
- West Ham earn valuable 1–1 draw after Magassa’s late equaliser.
- United miss two stoppage-time chances to win it.
- Bowen praises belief and reaction after going behind.
- His performance was standout despite a missed big chance.
- West Ham remain winless away under Nuno but gain momentum.
What’s Next?
West Ham travel to the Amex Stadium on Sunday, 7 December, to face Brighton. Nuno is expected to keep Bowen central to the game plan, with the team looking to build on the resilience shown at Old Trafford. A win would finally break their away drought — and could lift them out of the relegation zone depending on other results.
👉 Is this the performance that finally turns West Ham’s season around — or do they need more than resilience to survive?
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