A disallowed goal deep into injury-time cost the Blades a reward for a spirited second half display at West Ham on Saturday.

Trailing to a first half header from Hayden Mullins, United were clearly the better side in the second period but were unable to break down the Hammers.

However, in the fourth and final minute of injury-time, Rob Kozluk's side-foot into the empty net was ruled out after 5ft 6ins Derek Geary was adjudged to have fouled West Ham's 6ft 2ins goalkeeper Robert Green.

Despite reverting back to five across midfield, Law was obviously given the most licence to get forward to support Hulse. The youngster was quickly in the action, winning a first minute corner off Gabbidon after Montgomery - the only change to the starting line-up in preference to Kazim-Richards - had won possession in the centre of the park.

West Ham's first chance was a free-kick from 20 yards after a Davis foul. Tevez's effort hit the wall but the ball sat up nicely for a Zamora volley but he failed to connect. A minute later Tevez got around the back of Davis but the Argentinean World Cup star shot into the side-netting.

Bowyer reached the touchline on the left but his pull-back was cut out by Montgomery, whilst Warnock seemed content to leave Geary occupying the right full-back berth and Kozluk the left until Etherington swapped flanks.

From a narrow angle Quinn shot wide after Hulse's endeavour and, on 18 minutes, a corner from Gillespie found Davis unmarked but his low header was kicked away at the base of a post by Konchesky.

A couple of questionable decisions by the officials - the linesman and referee seeing one challenge completely differently - did not benefit either side and then Etherington fired a free-kick well over after Quinn's foul on Bowyer.

United had kept the home crowd relatively quiet until ten minutes before the break and the move that lead to the opening goal could have been avoided. Down the flank, Davis had the opportunity to clear into touch before being robbed by Zamora and although his pull-back to Bowyer was blocked by Kozluk, the resulting corner brought the Hammers the lead.

With 36 minutes gone, Etherington delivered to the front post where Ferdinand beat Davis in the air and flicked on for the fast-approaching MULLINS to lose Leigertwood before nodding past Kenny from close range.

West Ham went close a minute later when Konchesky's deep cross saw Etherington rise above Geary to head over, whilst the majority of United's deliveries into the penalty area appeared to result in fouls on home defenders.

Before the break Tevez hit a weak shot at Kenny after decent build-up play and the final action was a Blades free-kick, which Gillespie delivered, but West Ham's offside trap caught out the visitors.

Just 75 seconds into the second half United had created a chance after Geary had cut out a quick West Ham free-kick. Quinn was in the clear on the left and his low centre found Law, who's left-foot strike was wide.

Long-range efforts from Quinn and Montgomery failed to worry Green, whilst Reo-Coker also tried his luck from distance but was off-target.

Warnock changed his system with a double substitution just before the hour. Kabba and Nade were introduced and the latter was quickly into the action turning away from Ferdinand but the defender recovered to make a last-ditch tackle.

Twice in the space of 60 seconds the Blades went very close to levelling and both were the result of breaks down the right by Gillespie. Firstly, his deep cross found Nade in space at the back post but the French striker was overstretching and was unable to find the target.

Then, on 64 minutes, Gillespie curled in once more and after Nade caused problems, the ball fell to Law, but his shot from eight yards was deflected wide.

West Ham made two substitutions - the first enforced due to injury - but the Blades were enjoying their best spell of the game and Green was called into action on 68 minutes to save from a Davis header after United's second phase attack following Law's free-kick.

Another Etherington corner, on 70 minutes, caused problems but Sheringham's header at the back post was collected by Kenny, whilst back at the other end Kozluk's enticing ball was aimed at Hulse but Ferdinand cleared over his own crossbar.

As the rain began to fall and thunder crashed around Upton Park, the home side went back on the offensive, although Bowyer mis-hit a quick free-kick and was then caught by Jagielka as he attempted to breakaway down the right.

Leigertwood's left-footed shot was on target but straight at Green and as West Ham looked to run down the clock, Geary won possession from Bowyer but Kazim-Richards curled wide.

As four minutes of injury-time were indicated, Kenny dived to his left to save from Mullins after a neat one-two and then substitute Harewood almost benefitted from the space afforded to him by dinking the ball over the Blades goalkeeper but the effort could only find the side-netting.

There was a final twist, although it failed to help the Blades register a point, as the visitors launched a late assault. Leigertwood's ball into the box saw Green spill under pressure from Geary and Kozluk tapped into the empty net. However, referee Riley, who showed the yellow card to six players, ruled that United's diminutive Irish full-back had fouled.

The final whistle went seconds later and the Blades players surrounded the Leeds referee before leaving the pitch to applause from the travelling fans.

West Ham: Green, Konchesky, Gabbidon (McCartney 64), Ferdinand, Etherington, Mullins, Spector, Reo-Coker, Zamora (Harewood 72), Bowyer, Tevez (Sheringham 66).
Unused: Kiraly, Benayoun.

Blades: Kenny, Davis, Jagielka, Hulse, Quinn (Nade 59), Kozluk, Montgomery (Kabba 59), Gillespie (Kazim-Richards 76), Leigertwood, Geary, Law.
Unused: Bromby, Morgan.

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