Manchester United succumbs to another draw

Manchester United played out a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to West Ham United even as manager Jose Mourinho was sent into the stands for showing dissent at referee Jonathan Moss's decision.

Published : Nov 27, 2016 23:55 IST , London

Diafra headed West Ham into the lead in the second minute.
Diafra headed West Ham into the lead in the second minute.
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Diafra headed West Ham into the lead in the second minute.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was sent off for the second time in a month on Sunday as the controversial coach watched his side draw 1-1 at home to West Ham United and lose more ground in the Premier League title race.

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On an afternoon when Arsenal moved within three points of top spot after Alexis Sanchez scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Bournemouth, Mourinho's hopes of seeing United roar back into contention foundered amid more Old Trafford drama.

At the end of last month the Portuguese was dismissed for abusing referee Mark Clattenburg at half-time against Burnley. This time Mourinho's crime was simple petulance, booting a bottle down the touchline in the 27th minute after what he felt was an unjust booking for Paul Pogba.

Read: >Faria: 'Manchester United not thinking about title'

Jon Moss, the referee, had history with Mourinho, having also sent him to the stands against West Ham for a half-time rant at the official when he was Chelsea boss last November.

The score was 1-1 on Sunday when Mourinho saw red, Zlatan Ibrahimovic having levelled after a sensational start in which Diafra Sakho headed West Ham ahead after 90 seconds, the second fastest goal United had conceded at home in the Premier League.

What will have concerned Mourinho more than his latest run-in with authority was more dropped points as United, thanks to a fourth straight home league draw, lies sixth on 20 points, eight behind fourth-placed Arsenal and 11 adrift of leader Chelsea.

The top four are separated by just three points, Arsenal's win opening up a bit of daylight for the leading quartet over the rest of the league, with rival Tottenham Hotspur now four points adrift in fifth after Saturday's 2-1 loss at Chelsea.

Sanchez double

Arsenal's Sanchez scored after 12 minutes and in stoppage time to sink Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, helped by a goal for Theo Walcott who reckoned that, after the birth of his second child, it had been “the perfect weekend".

After three successive draws, Arsenal needed a win against a Bournemouth side which equalised in the first half with a Callum Wilson penalty and generally proved a stubborn opponent. “Our players questioned themselves a little bit after a few draws but we have responded,” said Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

'Great experience'

Southampton found a new hero in 19-year-old winger Josh Sims, whose assured debut included setting up Charlie Austin to head what proved to be the winner with only 43 seconds on the clock in a 1-0 victory over Everton.

Voted Man of the Match in the televised fixture, a thrilled Sims, a graduate of Southampton's renowned academy system, told Sky Sports : “The whole thing was a great experience. It was a mixture of nerves and excitement before starting but It's everything you wish for as a kid.”

The youngster's impressive contribution helped his side move into 10th place, just two points behind Everton, whose coach Koeman was left bemoaning a miserable return to his old St. Mary's managerial stamping ground.

Stoke City took advantage of an unwitting own goal by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes - Charlie Adam's header bounced off a post, back on to the Brazilian and into the net - to earn a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road that moved it up to 11th place.

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