FA Cup: Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United : Five talking points

Manchester United kept their hopes of lifting the 2016 FA Cup alive, as Anthony Martial’s late equaliser cancelled out Dimitri Payet’s wonderful free-kick to take the tie to a replay at Upton Park – the last cup tie at the venue. French playmaker Payet, who many feel should not have been on the field – put the visitors ahead midway through the second half with a world-class free kick from around 25 yards out.Manchester United’s pressing high up the pitch after going behind gave them the reward of an equaliser on 82 minutes when Anthony Martial met an Ander Herrera cross from the right by-line to beat Hammers’ keeper Darren Randolph – who appeared to be obstructed by Bastian Schweinsteiger. United survived a succession of West Ham corners in injury time to avoid defeat and have another crack at Slaven Bilic’s side in the replay.We look at the five talking points that may have shaped a riveting encounter at Old Trafford:

#1 Dimitri Payet should have been sent off moments before the free-kick

Dimitri Payet should not have been on the field.

No doubt Dimitri Payet’s free-kick to put West Ham in front deserved a pat on the back. But most people will argue that the 28-year old should have been given his marching orders by referee Martin Atkinson for diving a few minutes before the goal.

As the Frenchman skipped past Marouane Fellaini and approached the penalty box, he saw Marcos Rojo from left-back committing to a ground tackle before rightly pulling out just in time. Payet, who would have been better off had he stayed on his feet – saw the challenge coming and immediately made the decision to go to ground in order to win a penalty. Replays showed that Rojo didn’t even make contact with Payet – who was already on a booking – as he pulled out of the challenge.

By standard rules, that was a blatant dive by the Frenchman and should have merited a second yellow card and hence, a red card. Mr. Atkinson’s decision not to send Payet off was welcomed with wrath by Old Trafford. That anger was intensified when Payet’s free-kick went off the inside of the post and into the back of the net to give the Hammers the lead. Thankfully enough, Martial’s equaliser alleviated some of the fans’ frustration at the Payet diving decision.

#2 Martial\'s equalizer should not have stood

Darren Randolph(L) was fouled by Schweinsteiger in the build-up to the equalizer

Manchester United deservedly got their equaliser with 8 minutes to go as Ander Herrera’s great delivery from the right byline was thumped home by 20-year old Anthony Martial at the far post. But scoring that goal was made unfairly easier for Martial; as Bastian Schweinsteiger managed to send West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph to the ground while Herrera’s cross was air-borne. The Irish keeper was therefore taken out of the picture as he was unable to recover in time to keep Martial’s shot out. The incident, thankfully for United, was not seen by any of the officials as they allowed the goal to stand when it shouldn’t have.

#3 United\'s fast pace helps them unsettle the opposition

Dimitri Payet (L) wrestles with Guillermo Varela for the ball.

United responded perfectly to going behind with an attacking tempo that was typical of past Manchester United sides in the Freguson era. And it was this urgency to get back in the game and the willingness to attack the opposition goal ultimately did help United stay in the Cup.

This style of play nonplusses fans as to why they don’t produce a similar urgency throughout the 90 minutes instead of allowing the opposition defence to get into a groove with their slow, possession-based sideways passing tactics. They have the personnel in Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford to help force that quick movement of the ball, so why not implement that from the first minute?

#4 Bastian Schweinsteiger\'s introduction gives Manchester United the upper hand

Schweinsteiger’s introduction helped United create better goal-scoring opportunities

Veteran German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger’s entry into the field of play completely turned the game in United’s favour. He adjusted himself into a free role fairly quickly, getting himself into spaces in West Ham’s midfield in order to make the perfect pass and to locate an advanced United winger.

He was basically the link-up man who took over the responsibility of receiving the ball from Smalling or Blind at the back and supplying it forward as quickly as possible to force an equaliser for Manchester United. The tactic worked, as West Ham’s defenders failed to cope with the pressure United were exerting on them in the last fifteen minutes during Schweinsteiger’s presence.

#5 A replay at Upton Park is the perfect result

Angelo Ogbonna’s scored a 122nd-minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round replay at Upton Park.

A 1-1 draw means that the two sides will battle it out for a trip to Wembley at Upton Park in a replay. The result is perfect in two ways. Firstly, both sides didn’t deserve to lose. Secondly, it gives Upton Park the opportunity to host a final cup game(West Ham shift base to the Olympic Stadium from next season onwards) following a 120-minute spectacle against Liverpool in the fourth round, which the Hammers won in injury time of extra time.

The venue was also host to West Ham’s famous 9-8 penalty shoot-out victory over Everton in last season’s third round. Whether the fans will get to witness a similarly nail-biting encounter is a question that will be answered very soon.