West Ham v Man Utd

West Ham 2

Collins 27′, 59′

Man Utd 2

Cleverley 23′ Van Persie 90′

FT 90 +5
HT 1-1

By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport

Robin van Persie scored in stoppage time as Manchester United remained in the FA Cup by the skin of their teeth and denied West Ham a famous win.

Tom Cleverley gave the visitors the lead when he sidefooted in before James Collins headed the equaliser, his first goal since returning to the club.

Collins gave the Hammers the lead with another header after the break.

With seconds remaining, Van Persie latched on to Ryan Giggs's through-ball to earn the visitors a replay.

No bore draws

Only two of Manchester United's last 32 games in all competitions have ended level after 90 minutes

Although the Premier League leaders left it very late, there was something inevitable about the final act given the visitors' reputation for recovering the most unpromising of situations.

It was, however, heartbreaking for West Ham, who few would have said did not deserve their place in the fourth round following a mature performance.

Both sides fielded strong line-ups, while the visitors also named an impressive bench that included Rio Ferdinand, Antonio Valencia, Ryan Giggs, Ashley Young and Van Persie.

Welbeck took the Dutchman's place in the starting XI and his pace was a worry in the opening 45 minutes, but it was the speed of thought of strike partner Hernandez that led to the opening goal for United.

The Mexican has scored three in the last three, but was provider on this occasion when he darted down the right and delivered a pacey ball into the area for midfielder Cleverley, who opened his body up and guided a firm strike past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

His goal delighted the travelling fans and was warmly applauded by match attendee and ex-Old Trafford favourite David Beckham, to whom the goalscorer has been likened.

Hammer doubles

In the last three competitive meetings between West Ham and Manchester United at Upton Park, four different Hammers players have scored a brace

A few moments earlier, defender Nemanja Vidic had a header cleared off the line by Daniel Potts, while West Ham's Alou Diarra saw his headed effort cleared from danger by a well-positioned Paul Scholes.

That aerial threat has benefitted Sam Allardyce's side this season, and five minutes after the opener they were level via those means when Collins scored his first goal since returning to the club from Aston Villa.

Joe Cole, making his second debut for the Hammers, roamed from wing to wing during the match and bent in a delightful ball from the left that was powered in by the centre-back off his forehead.

Ferguson's side made another lively start after the break and Cleverley should have at least hit the target instead of thrashing over when the ball came to him at the edge of the area.

Although the tactics seemed set right, Ferguson's defenders appeared to allow Cole more room than should have been afforded as the game went on.

Coming up to the hour, Cole was again allowed space to deliver. And on almost the same spot from which he had supplied the cross for West Ham's first goal, he found his partner-in-crime Collins, whose flicked header was beautifully directed into the corner.

Ferguson threw on the bigger guns - Van Persie and midfielder Antonio Valencia - to try to remain in a competition his side last won in 2004.

As four minutes of stoppage time were announced, the Hammers must have entertained the thought they had the 11-time winners beaten, but Van Persie changed all that as he brilliantly controlled Giggs's lofted ball and rifled in.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

West Ham United

22 Jaaskelainen
05 Tomkins
19 Collins
20 Demel
33 Potts
04 Nolan
10 Collison Booked
23 Diarra (Noble - 73' )
26 J Cole (Taylor - 78' )
09 C Cole
12 Vaz Te (Jarvis - 61' )

Substitutes

30 Spiegel
02 Reid
27 Spence
07 Jarvis
14 Taylor
16 Noble
47 Lee

Manchester United

01 De Gea
02 Rafael
06 Evans
12 Smalling (Giggs - 78' )
15 Vidic Booked
28 Buttner
22 Scholes Booked (Valencia - 68' )
23 Cleverley
26 Kagawa
14 Hernandez (Van Persie - 68' )
19 Welbeck

Substitutes

13 Lindegaard
05 Ferdinand
07 Valencia
11 Giggs
18 Young
20 Van Persie
27 Macheda

Ref: Atkinson

Att: 32,922

Match Stats

Possession 41 59

Shots

15 12

On target

7 6

Corners

4 5

Fouls

5 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:30 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:49

Effort on goal by Antonio Valencia from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

90:00 +3:22

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ryan Giggs, clearance made by Guy Demel.

90:00 +0:22

Ryan Giggs provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +0:22 Goal scored

Goal - Robin van Persie - West Ham 2 - 2 Man Utd Robin van Persie scores a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. West Ham 2-2 Man Utd.

89:37

Header from close range by Ryan Giggs clears the bar.

87:51

Close range shot by Carlton Cole misses to the left of the goal. Daniel Potts fouled by Antonio Valencia, the ref awards a free kick. James Collins restarts play with the free kick.

82:58

Free kick taken by Mark Noble. Effort on goal by Jack Collison from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

82:58 Booking

Booking Nemanja Vidic is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

82:53

Nemanja Vidic challenges Matthew Jarvis unfairly and gives away a free kick.

80:04

Corner from the right by-line taken by Robin van Persie, clearance by Guy Demel. Ryan Giggs takes a short corner.

78:22

Mark Noble fouled by Alexander Buttner, the ref awards a free kick. Jussi Jaaskelainen takes the free kick.

77:08 Substitution

Substitution Joe Cole goes off and Matthew Taylor comes on.

77:08 Substitution

Substitution (Man Utd) makes a substitution, with Ryan Giggs coming on for Chris Smalling.

71:54 Substitution

Substitution Alou Diarra goes off and Mark Noble comes on.

71:54

Close range headed effort by Danny Welbeck clears the crossbar.

67:19

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Alexander Buttner, Header from close in by Robin van Persie misses to the left of the target.

67:19 Substitution

Substitution Paul Scholes leaves the field to be replaced by Antonio Valencia.

67:19 Substitution

Substitution Robin van Persie comes on in place of Javier Hernandez.

60:06 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Jarvis is brought on as a substitute for Ricardo Vaz Te.

58:52

Assist by Joe Cole.

58:52 Goal scored

Goal - James Collins - West Ham 2 - 1 Man Utd James Collins finds the net with a headed goal from inside the box. West Ham 2-1 Man Utd.