Late Blind strike rescues the Reds

MANCHESTER United boss Louis van Gaal threatened to drop his creative aces for more physical players after having his long–ball tactics questioned by West Ham boss Sam Allardyce.

A superb goal from Cheikhou Kouyate, the midfielder deployed in defence due to the absences of Winston Reid and James Collins, had looked like giving West Ham a deserved first Barclays Premier League win over United in seven years and at the 13th attempt.

But Daley Blind scored in stoppage time to rescue a 1–1 draw and a scarcely deserved point after a lacklustre performance summed up by a second–half miss from Radamel Falcao.

United’s equaliser came after Marouane Fellaini had been sent on to cause havoc, a ‘Plan B’ after his side struggled to scrap for the ball.

United finished the game with 10 men as Luke Shaw was sent off for two bookable offences. Van Gaal insisted the second yellow card, given by referee Mark Clattenburg in the final moments for a foul on Stewart Downing, should not have been given.

Van Gaal also rued the opportunity to make up ground on Manchester City, who are five points better off in second place.



MANCHESTER United are holding talks over a new contract for goalkeeper David de Gea, according to his agent Jorge Mendes.

De Gea (24) has been repeatedly linked with Real Madrid with a little over a year remaining on his existing deal.

Speculation over his future increased after United signed former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes on a free transfer.

Mendes told a Spanish radio station suggestions of a deal with Madrid were wrong, and that talks had begun with United.