This was the first time under Carrick’s leadership that United appeared uncertain. They seemed like a team reborn following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, but against West Ham, United appeared to run out of ideas and Carrick didn’t have the solution.

His approach was too rigid; a strategy that succeeded against teams like Arsenal and Manchester City didn’t work against the Hammers, and there was no change in United’s tactics.

United resorted to lofting the ball into the box, left with no other choice by West Ham’s tight defence, while their main striker, Benjamin Sesko, sat on the bench.

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Even Carrick’s substitutions seemed premeditated, none of them aligning with the game’s current rhythm. Some frustrated fans quipped it looked like an “Amorim game”.

The Slovenian superstar was finally brought into play, and he made his mark, getting on the end of a cross and expertly finishing to score.

It proved a case of too little, too late, with the result ultimately serving neither side particularly well. West Ham had drawn level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, whilst United missed the opportunity to establish a greater distance between themselves and Chelsea.

It was a point snatched for United, and Paul Scholes acknowledged as much on TNT Sports: “I think West Ham were perfect for 90 minutes. Perfect for 90, 92 minutes but Manchester United kept going right to the death and that’s what they have got under Michael Carrick.

“I don’t think they deserved a goal but the finish was brilliant.”