LONDON – Manchester United substitute Benjamin Sesko scored a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser to snatch a point for his side in a 1-1 Premier League draw against relegation-threatened West Ham United at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

The result keeps United in fourth place with 45 points, while West Ham rise to 24 points from 26 games, just two points shy of the safety zone.

Tomas Soucek had put West Ham ahead five minutes into the second half, and it looked as though the home side would claim a crucial victory – until Sesko’s clever finish deep into added time crushed West Ham’s hopes.

United’s four-match winning streak came to an end as interim manager Michael Carrick dropped his first points in charge on a frustrating night for his Champions League-chasing team before Sesko’s late cameo.

“I think we were a little disappointed and we were definitely not at our best. I'm a little frustrated at that,” Carrick told TNT Sports. “It is a tough place to come and we didn't have that sharpness to find the answers. Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”

West Ham’s draw leaves several clubs nervously looking over their shoulders, including 17th-placed Nottingham Forest (26 points) and Tottenham Hotspur (29), who suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United and likely celebrated Sesko’s equaliser.

United managed just three shots on target throughout the game, as West Ham restricted clear chances, but as the visitors dominated possession in the final 15 minutes, a late goal felt inevitable. Joshua Zirkzee nearly set the stage for Sesko, flashing a header just inches wide before the leveller.

West Ham had opened the scoring when Soucek ghosted in to prod home from inside the six-yard box off Jarrod Bowen’s low cross. United’s Casemiro appeared to score from Kobbie Mainoo’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside. West Ham also squandered several opportunities to double their lead on the counter.

The equaliser arrived when Bryan Mbeumo delivered a dangerous low ball into the box, and Slovenian Sesko produced a superb volley to break the deadlock.

“Credit to the boys for coming back again, it is a great trait to have in the team,” Carrick added. “There are positives to take from it, you can't win every game. We certainly didn't want to come away from here without a point.”

-Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis and Ken Ferris/Reuters