MASON SPARES POGBA BLUSHES OVER HANDBALL

Greenwood rescues a draw after Pogba handball and United need just a point to seal top-four spot

THE equation for Manchester United remains simple – avoid defeat on Sunday and they are back in the Champions League.

This hard-earned draw means a point at top-four rivals Leicester on the final day of the season will be enough to take Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side back among Europe’s elite.

Although they are lurching towards the finish line, with draws in their last two league games, even a win here would have meant United requiring a point at Leicester for a top-four place.

But it was hard not to see this as a missed opportunity, with United looking jaded and lacking a cutting edge.

It is the first time they have been in the Champions League places since September, having staged a late surge in the second half of the season to stand on the brink of what would be a remarkable achievement.

Back in October, United were even as low as 14th, but an impressive run since the turn of the year has seen them elbow their way past Leicester.

For West Ham, the draw was enough to confirm their Premier League status for another season, with David Moyes’ side fully deserving of their point.

Solskjaer kept faith with David de Gea, despite the keeper’s latest highprofile blunders in the 3-1 FA Cup semifinal defeat by Chelsea.

United dominated possession early on but were unable to turn it into a goal.

Marcus Rashford stung the palms of Lukasz Fabianski with a dipping effort, while Mason Greenwood, making his 50th United appearance, saw a goal-bound shot charged down by Angelo Ogbonna.

For all their time on the ball, United made hard work of it, allowing West Ham to take the upper hand in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

And the hosts found themselves a goal down moments before half-time, after Tim Fosu-Mensah brought down Michail Antonio with a late lunge to concede a free-kick.

Hammers skipper Mark Noble slid the free-kick to Declan Rice, whose sliced effort was blocked by the outstretched arms of Paul Pogba, in what was a blatant penalty.

Antonio stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly rolled the ball into net for his eighth goal in his last six games.

United were on level terms six minutes after the restart through Greenwood, who linked with Anthony Martial before applying a clinical finish for his 17th goal of the season.

De Gea pulled off a fine save just after the hour, tipping a deflected Jarrod Bowen shot over the bar, before Solskjaer threw on Odion Ighalo to try to conjure a winner.

But now the focus shifts to Sunday and the Champions League shoot-out at the King Power Stadium.