Angry Manchester United reactions on touchline and in stands cannot mask truth vs West Ham

Even against a team with a defeatist air about them, it was Manchester United who were defeated.

West Ham were booed off at the interval and still claimed the scalp of United. They are not the coup they once were.

United are unlikely to let this lie. The manner of West Ham's winning penalty kick - a collison involving Matthijs de Ligt and Danny Ings, a belated intervention from the Video Assistant Referee Michael Oliver and an unconvincing review by the on-pitch referee, will rankle for days.

The giant screens in the London Stadium replayed the incident, leaving United supporters apoplectic. Darren Fletcher was on his feet in the press box. Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake surrounded the fourth official while the players continued to appeal the legitimacy of it.

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De Ligt and Andre Onana suggested there was a handball. Whether there was or not is moot. Referees have been advised to operate via the 'umpire's call' provision in cricket. The grounds for VAR were tenuous, at best. Yet it was overseen by the overrated Oliver.

Jarrod Bowen converted in the 92nd minute. The match passed the 100-minute mark. Twelve minutes were added. Van Nistelrooy played ball boy. Ten Hag mimicked Sir Alex Ferguson by tapping his watch. Time then ran out.

Ten Hag marched onto the pitch, shook the hands of the three officials, clapped the emptying United away end and consoled his players. Whatever the rancour around United's fourth defeat in nine Premier League matches, it should not have come to this.

They had enough chances in the first half alone to win a mouth-full of matches yet at no point did they lead this. United are