Hammers frustrate Devils

> Ibrahimovic’s excellent goal saves United’s blushes as Jose’s men settle for a point

eight points – nine if you take Arsenal’s goal difference into account.

West Ham were at their best in the opening and closing minutes of an enthralling match. It was not two minutes old when two centre-forwards dashed to meet Dimitri Payet’s freekick. Diafra Sakho’s head met it fractionally before Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s boot and they were ahead.

Having started the season badly, Slaven Bilic’s side find themselves enveloped in an intimidating series of matches. The 3-2 defeat to Tottenham preceded this game and there are matches against Arsenal and Liverpool to follow this one.

Payet’s ability with a dead ball appears to be their best chance of coming through unscathed. Midway through the second half, Sakho sent one of Payet’s corners on to the roof of David De Gea’s net. Then as he prepared to take a freekick that Manchester United’s defence imagined would be floated in, Payet suddenly shot and De Gea had to tip it over.

Right at the death, Michail Antonio lead a breakaway that might have produced the winner had De Gea not blocked Ashley Fletcher from a few yards out. It was rather more competitive than the draws against Stoke, Burnley and Arsenal had been.

Despite their fine displays against Feyenoord on Thursday night, Mourinho