Harry Maguire was United’s last line of defence in 1-1 draw with West Ham

London – In a night that halted Manchester United’s resurgence under interim boss Michael Carrick, Harry Maguire emerged as the solitary beacon of assurance, anchoring a back line that flirted with calamity before settling for a 1-1 stalemate against West Ham United on Tuesday.

The draw snapped United’s four-match winning streak and exposed a blunt attack, yet the visitors might have left the London Stadium empty-handed but for their captain’s commanding presence. While Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martínez were culpable for the momentary lapse that allowed West Ham to seize the lead, Maguire refused to buckle.

From the opening whistle the England centre-back shadowed Jarrod Bowen, snuffing out what looked a certain breakthrough in the seventh minute. That intervention set the tone for a performance built on muscle and mindfulness: two tackles attempted, two won; two interceptions; two clearances; four ground duels claimed without reply; and his lone aerial contest also headed firmly clear.

Maguire’s influence, however, stretched beyond the defensive third. Charging forward in the second half, he let fly with a rare shot that momentarily lifted subdued team-mates and travelling fans alike. Yet it was his distribution that truly underlined his authority. The 29-year-old completed 49 of 51 passes, a 96 per cent success rate, and was flawless in enemy territory, finding a red shirt with all 16 of his attempted passes in the West Ham half.

Carrick, overseeing his fifth game since taking temporary charge, cut a frustrated figure as United’s build-up play repeatedly stalled, but he could take heart from Maguire’s composure on a night when fluency deserted the side. The point keeps United ticking over in the race for the top four, yet the post-match inquest will centre on how to replicate their skipper’s reliability across the pitch.

For now, Maguire’s holistic display offers a sliver of consolation: rock-solid in defence, surgical with the ball, and unquestionably United’s last line of resistance against a West Ham outfit that sensed blood until the final whistle.