Nuno Espirito Santo likened West Ham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United to "a big punch in the stomach" after conceding a 96th-minute equaliser.

Tomas Soucek looked like he had secured West Ham another vital three points in their fight against Premier League relegation, but the Hammers' resolve was broken late on.

Having staunchly defended their lead, Benjamin Sesko's stunning first-time finish beat Mads Hermansen late on to stop West Ham from going level on points with 17th-place Nottingham Forest.

At 95:11, Sesko's leveller was the latest result-altering goal West Ham have conceded at home on record in the Premier League (since 2006-07).

And it means that West Ham have dropped more points from winning positions than any other side in the top-flight this season (20).

"Disappointed, all of us are to get this in the end. We had a good game, the boys worked hard, but it was not to be," Nuno told BBC Match of the Day.

"It is a draw that gives us sadness, but the way we competed was really good. It is a mix of everything – the need that we have and the work from the boys deserved so much more.

"We should be proud, and this is the way we must compete in every game like this.

"We should keep the standards, I said to the boys, and their faces are of a job well done. They hurt, and it is painful.

"You look back to the game, and it is always the final moments that you think you almost got across the line, but then get a big punch in the stomach. It is painful."

West Ham had chances to win it late on, with Callum Wilson leading two counter-attacks, with the first thwarted by Leny Yoro before Senne Lammens stood tall to deny him one-on-one shortly before Sesko's goal.

The Hammers finished the match with seven shots worth 1.1 expected goals (xG), matching United's three shots on target, and Nuno wants his side to continue showing the same fight in the relegation battle.

"We competed really well and played a good game against a good team," he told TNT Sports. "I think we started the second half really well and defended properly until the last moment.

"We showed we are here to fight, and believe, and keep working hard. We have been trying to fix our problems. You can see the improvement. This is what we need for our future.

"We could have killed the game; we had a couple of counter-attacks, but it was not to be. We need to keep on going."