West Ham boss Sam Allardyce said his players were excellent after the draw West Ham boss Sam Allardyce said his players were excellent after the draw

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce described Manchester United as “long ball” after conceding a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Upton Park on Sunday.

Louis van Gaal’s visitors brought on Marouane Fellaini for the final stages of the game, and changed their style of play before getting a reward through Daley Blind’s 92nd-minute goal.

Allardyce, who has received criticism in the past for his side’s own style, admitted West Ham struggled to cope with the aerial balls, with Manchester United playing 30 more long passes than their opponents.

He told Sky Sports: “We couldn’t cope with 'long-ball United', it was 'thump it forward and see what they could get'. In the end it paid off.

Noble: Draw feels like a loss Noble: Draw feels like a loss

“When you’ve got Fellaini up there it was difficult for us, it’s not how you normally see Man United play, but it got them a point in the end.

“The likes of Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Angel Di Maria hardly got a look in.”

The draw leaves West Ham eighth in the Premier League table, still seven points behind their opponents in fourth.

Allardyce admitted his side were low in the dressing room, having thoroughly deserved to win the game.

“The lads are absolutely gutted in there, and so they should be.

“It was an absolutely fantastic performance and from the point of view where we were at the end, we were going to see it through. It wasn’t to be.

“I think we needed to find the second goal, we had the chance but we didn’t do it.”

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