Van Gaal defends 'long-ball' tactics

Under-performing forwards forced Manchester United into adopting long-ball tactics, manager Louis van Gaal said after his squad snatched a 1-1 draw at West Ham on Sunday.

United started with Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Angel di Maria and Adnan Januzaj at Upton Park, but it took a stoppage-time volley from Daley Blind to earn the visiting side a point after Cheikhou Kouyate had given West Ham the lead in the 49th minute.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said United's strategy was "thump it forward and see what happens," and van Gaal admitted the introduction of gangly Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini as a 72nd-minute substitute heralded a change of tack.