LVG defends use of Fellaini

London - Manchester United's under-performing forwards forced manager Louis van Gaal into adopting long-ball tactics, the Dutchman said after his side snatched a 1-1 draw at West Ham.

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

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

"I've done that already a lot of times with Fellaini, so that is not new," said Van Gaal, who lost Luke Shaw to a late red card after the United left-back received a second booking for a lunge at Stewart Downing.

"West Ham United should know that. But with him we have more power. With Adnan and Di Maria, we have more creative players.

"And that's why the second ball, you cannot always win with these players, but you have to win (it). Otherwise I have to line up always players like Fellaini."

Van Gaal claimed that United's failure to win the second ball had been their major failing, but the visitors also looked bereft of ideas when they did have possession.

Falcao squandered a good opportunity when he stabbed wide with only Adrian to beat, but aside from a couple of saves to deny Van Persie, the West Ham goalkeeper was scarcely troubled until Blind struck in the 92nd minute.

The Dutch utility player's goal was his second last-gasp equaliser of the season, after another late strike at West Bromwich Albion in October.

But while it preserved a run of unbeaten away matches stretching back to November 2, the draw represented a missed opportunity for United, who could have closed to within three points of second-place Manchester City in the Premier League table.

Asked if his side had squandered a chance to put pressure on City, who drew 1-1 with Hull City on Saturday, Van Gaal replied: "Yes. I'm agreeing with that before the game.

"You know what it is. They have lost points, then you can make a gap with your competitors. Now you don't make this gap, so it is a missed chance."