LONDON: Benjamin Sesko salvaged a 1-1 draw for Manchester United against West Ham United as Michael Carrick’s perfect start came to an end on Tuesday, while Tottenham Hotspur sacked head coach Thomas Frank following a 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United.

The Hammers kept one United fan who has vowed not to cut his hair until the Red Devils win five consecutive games waiting as they boosted their chances of survival despite the setback of Sesko’s stoppage time strike.

The manner of United’s impressive four consecutive wins since Carrick took charge had seen calls for the former midfielder, who has been appointed until the end of the season, to be handed the job on a more permanent basis.

But Nuno Espirito San­to’s men disrupted the atta­cking flow that Carrick’s side had shown in putting Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham to the sword in recent weeks.

Tomas Soucek converted Jarrod Bowen’s cross early in the second half to give the home side the lead.

But West Ham were denied a priceless win at the death when Sesko brilliantly flicked in Bryan Mbeumo’s cross.

“We were definitely not at our best,” said Carrick. “We didn’t have that sharpness to find the answers. Great spirit again and we will take the point and move on.”

United remain in fourth after fifth-placed Chelsea blew a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home to Leeds.

Meanwhile, West Ham moved to within two points of safety with Spurs now just five points above the relegation zone in 16th.

Frank was shown the exit door fewer than eight months in charge as Spurs are without a win in their past eight Premier League games — their worst such run since October 2008.

Spurs have won just two of their past 17 league matches and collected only 12 points in that time.

Frank, 52, replaced Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed in June just over two weeks after leading Spurs to victory in the Europa League final.

Malick Thiaw gave New­castle the half-time lead their dominance deserved when he slotted home in first half stoppage time.

Archie Gray briefly levelled for Tottenham after the break, but Jacob Ram­sey quickly restored New­castle’s lead as they secu­red just a third away league win of the campaign.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s charge towards Champions League qualification stalled after Leeds United fought back.

Joao Pedro’s opener and a Cole Palmer penalty had the Blues on course for a fifth consecutive league win since Liam Rosenior took charge.

However, Moises Caiced­o’s rash challenge on Jayden Bogle gave Lukas Nmecha the chance to give Leeds life from the penalty spot.

Noah Okafor then stroked home an equaliser after a goalmouth scramble to further edge Leeds clear of the relegation zone.

“We gifted Leeds a point,” said a frustrated Rosenior. “If we want to improve and get to where we want to be, we have to make sure we’re switched on for 90 minutes. It’s as simple as that.

“I can’t remember Leeds having a shot or a moment in the game. Some of our football in possession, our press and our energy was everything I wanted to see. That makes it even more of a bitter pill to swallow that we haven’t won the game.”

Rosenior was left with his head in his hands after Palmer missed an open goal to win the game deep in stoppage time.

Elsewhere, Everton’s hopes of European football for the first time since 2017 were dealt a bodyblow after Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026