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Daley Blind stole a point for Manchester United as his late volley saw them snatch a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.
It had looked like the hosts had boosted their top four hopes by dispatching a clueless Red Devils side but their Dutch midfielder, more renowned for his disciplined ball-playing, came to the rescue as he steered a poor clearance beyond Adrian from the edge of the area.
Van Gaal’s men, who fall to fourth position after the weekend’s action, struggled to find any kind of rhythm in east London, while Wayne Rooney’s anonymity in a midfield role may force them to change tactics.
But they somehow claimed a share of the spoils, which will infuriate Sam Allardyce, who’s Hammers deserved plenty of praise for a performance which proved beyond doubt they have added class and guile to their game.
West Ham’s defensive injury issues led Allardyce to play Cheikhou Kouyate at cente-back and the Sengalese star showed he was a more than capable stand in after five minutes when he clipped the ball off Robin van Persie’s toe and out for a corner.
Enner Valencia, who remained with the Hammers despite reported interest from Chelsea in January, then twice tested David De Gea, forcing the Spaniard into two good, if fairly comfortable, saves.
And later the Ecuadorian nearly put through spritely strike partner Diafra Sakho, only to see Antonio Valencia scamper across and steal the ball away from his feet.
Alex Song has been a delightful loan signing for the Hammers, and was imperious again in east London, but as the hosts upped the pressure on a listless Man United side he skewed a volley well wide when placed to do much better.
The Red Devils attempted to get at their opponents but with strike star Radamel Falcao forced to pick up the ball on the flanks it nullified his attacking threat and it was only an Angel di Maria strike from range which truly tested West Ham shot-stopper Adrian.
But just three minutes into the second half the Hammers grabbed a well deserved lead as Kouyate, in a crowded penalty area, brilliantly juggled the ball on the turn before firing a volley in home past a helpless De Gea.
A riposte seemed unlikely, especially when Falcao tried his luck from 25 yards and succeeded in finding the travelling support in the Trevor Brooking Stand rather than the target, but gradually Van Gaal’s side found their feet.
Luke Shaw’s menacing sorties down the left flank gave Carl Jenkinson something to think about, while Rooney, who was again subdued in his midfield berth, began to see more of the ball.
But Arsenal loanee Jenkinson gave United a fright just after the hour when his cross-cum-shot, on the counter, whistled a whisker past the post, while at the other end an Adnan Januzaj volley nearly made it into the top tier.
Sakho, more so than Valencia, was the scourge of the Red Devils’ backline in the second period and he left marker Rojo flat on his face as the pair tussled for the ball as his hunger to double the Hammers’ lead told.
With 20 minutes to go Dutch boss Van Gaal threw Marouane Fellaini into the fray as he looked to go direct in his quest for an equaliser, but Falcao, when put through excellent by Van Persie, proceeded to scuff a fine one-on-one chance wide.
Adrian then superbly stuck a foot out to deny Dutch striker Van Persie who seemed odds-on to slam home a Falcao pass, while Belgian star Fellaini also saw a strike well saved.
Their pressure, in the end, told and when Jenkinson attempted to head clear two minutes into added time, Blind flashed the ball into the bottom corner to hand Manchester United an undeserved leveller.
Meanwhile, in the game’s dying embers there was also a second yellow card for Shaw as he tried to halt a cantering Stewart Downing on the counter
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