WHUFC
West Ham United and Manchester United each collected a share of the points as the Hammers were held to a 0-0 draw by the Red Devils.
Although the Hammers more than held their own in Thursday's match at London Stadium, neither goalkeeper could be beaten.
Marko Arnautovic and Joao Mario enjoyed the best opportunities for David Moyes' side while Adrian was called into action, making stunning saves to deny Luke Shaw and Alexis Sanchez.
The early chances fell West Ham's way as Aaron Cresswell created a headed effort for Arnautovic, before Cheikhou Kouyate had a similar chance saved by David De Gea.
Scott McTominay had Manchester United's first effort of the game, seeing a low shot go wide from distance.
Goalkeeper Adrian was called into action three times in quick succession midway through the first period, making a string of excellent saves. The first denied Jesse Lingard from 25 yards, before the Spaniard brilliantly stopped Sanchez and Shaw from opening the scoring, stopping the defender from following up the Chilean's strike.
Cresswell then came close for the home side as his left-footed attempt skimmed the base of the post from distance, before Joao Mario had the chance of the first period.
Excellent work from Arnautovic saw the Austrian create space on the right-flank. Arnautovic played the ball into the six-yard box but Mario could only put the ball wide.
Arnautovic's determination and quick feet led to some frantic defending for the away side on the hour mark. The No7 drove into the box and attempted to cross the ball, which eventually fell to Pablo Zabaleta. The Argentinian's shot was blocked however.
The Hammers looked the more positive of the two teams in the second period, with Manchester United's best effort of the period coming in the 70th minute, as Paul Pogba saw an effort go wide.
The introduction of Andy Carroll gave the Hammers a new dynamic up front and the N09 combined well with Arnautovic, playing the ball into his attacking teammate. Arnautovic brought the ball down expertly and set up Mark Noble, who could only shoot wide.
Noble also provided a chance for Arnautovic with a pin-point ball into the box, but the volleyed effort skewered wide.
West Ham United: Adrian; Rice, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Kouyate, Noble (c), Masuaku (Carroll 65'); Mario, Lanzini, Arnautovic
Substitutes: Hart, Evra, Obiang, Cullen, Fernandes, Hugill, Carroll
Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia (c) (Bailly 90+3'), Lindelof, Smalling, Jones, Shaw; McTominay, Herrera, Pogba; Lingard (Rashford 74'), Sanchez (Ashley Young 90+1')
Substitutes: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Young, Mata, Martial, Rashford
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Arnautovic: We played really well against Manchester United
WHUFC.com
Marko Arnautovic says West Ham United should be proud of the way they played in holding Manchester United to a goalless draw on Thursday evening.
The Austrian led from the front against the team which will finish second in the table, winning his individual battle with England defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones and having the Hammers' best chances in what was a hard-fought, physical game of Premier League football.
At the other end, West Ham restricted their opponents to pot shots from distance, all of which goalkeeper Adrian dealt with comfortably enough.
"I think we did well," Arnautovic confirmed. "We played really well. On a couple of occasions in the first half they had shots from long distance, but I think, overall, we deserved this point and maybe we deserved more as we had a couple of chances that maybe we could have finished better.
"Overall, we played well and it was a good game. Well done to us and well done to the fans as well. We can build on this and we have another game at home on Sunday and we want to finish the season strong.
"We started last week and this game we continued to do it and we want to end the season well."
Sky Sports Man of the Match Arnautovic did not give the Manchester United defence a moment's peace, repeatedly beating Smalling and arguably staying on his feet when Jones clipped him inside the penalty area.
On another night, he believes the home side could have won all three points instead of settling for one.
"There was a lot of holding and a lot of grabbing. It was a very physical game, but this is the Premier League and we knew we were playing with Manchester United, who are second in the league and are a strong a team, so we needed to compete with them and we did.
"I think it was a fair result but if we had finished better we could have taken this game come away with a win, but we are happy with a point."
Looking at the bigger picture, West Ham could now finish as high as tenth with a victory over Everton on Sunday and the Austrian is targeting a win to sign off what has been a challenging season on a real and tangible high.
"I'm so happy that we are safe because this Club, the fans and everyone deserves to be in the Premier League.
"Of course, we had ups and downs, but I'm happy I could help the team towards our goals. I hope I can continue this next season.
"We have one more game on Sunday and we want to finish strong, then we can go forward to next season."
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Moyes: The players showed a really good attitude
WHUFC.com
David Moyes was full of praise for his players' attitude after they battled to a 0-0 draw against Manchester United at London Stadium on Thursday.
Having secured their Premier League position with a win at Leicester at the weekend, the Hammers showed no sign of slacking off early with a committed performance against Jose Mourinho's side.
The Red Devils will end the campaign as runners-up to their city rivals, but Moyes' side gave as good as they got and he was delighted to pick up a creditable draw.
"It was a good point for us," he said. "Maybe Man United will say the same thing as well. We had one or two chances, but Adrian had to make some good saves too.
"I thought our boys showed a really good attitude. After getting safe in midweek you're never quite sure [how you're going to react], but they were bang at it and great credit to the players.
"I think the most pleasing thing was to get a clean sheet. If we've had a failing this season it's been the amount of goals we've conceded, but we've kept two in a row now and that's important.
"Young Declan Rice played very well tonight. Angelo Ogbonna did well again, Zabaleta, I think the boys at the back did a really good job.
"But we were a threat at times as well. With Marko Arnautovic up front we're always going to be a threat to everyone we play."
Having only lost twice in their last seven games, Moyes credited the team-building training trip to Miami as a key factor behind their road to safety, and now he wants one final push against his old side Everton on Sunday.
He added: "We took the players away after the Burnley game. We were criticised for going away, but it was the best thing we did. It pulled the players together and we worked hard when we were away.
"The players had a good time together as well, we all did, and since we came back we have been bang at it.
"We've done ok against the big sides, especially at home. We didn't play well against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago, but overall we've given the so called bigger teams a good game here.
"We want to climb the league table, we want to be higher, so if we can win against Everton, great. But obviously we've done the job we came in to do, which was make sure we weren't relegated.
"When we took over we were in a relegation position, we're not now, and over that time the players have improved and the team has improved."
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Adrian: I'm happy to make saves and help the team
WHUFc.com
Keeping back-to-back clean sheets meant Adrian left London Stadium on Thursday night a very happy man.
Fresh from helping the Hammers to a crucial 2-0 victory at Leicester City at the weekend, the No13 was back between the posts as the Hammers repelled Manchester United en route to a battling 0-0 draw.
The Spaniard was in fine form, saving well from Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Luke Shaw to ensure his side's efforts were rewarded with a well-deserved point.
Adrian was pleased with his contribution and even happier that the team had taken another positive result.
"We are happy with this point and obviously happy with the clean sheet," he said. "We know with the strikers they had, Sanchez, Pogba, Rashford, Lingard, it was going to be a busy game, but we defended well.
"Making those saves is my job, to help my teammates, so I'm happy with the performance. For the double save [from Sanchez and Shaw], I could see the first one all the way, and the second was a reaction. I think I saved it with my shin or my knee, it was close. I'm happy to make those saves."
With just one game remaining in the season – Sunday's visit of Everton to east London – Adrian is keen to keep building momentum over the final week of 2017/18 to take into the summer.
He added: "We have one more game, and we need to finish as high as possible. After that we know have to improve many things. We have to learn from our mistakes this season and fight higher up the table."
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