Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesThe play of Joe Cole was one of the reasons why West Ham nearly pulled off a massive upset of Manchester United.

The words "Four minutes!? Where do you get four minutes from?" were barely past my lips, when Ryan Giggs unleashed a killer long ball -- I assume it wasn't an aimless punt -- for Robin van Persie to superbly control and stroke underneath Jussi Jaaskelainen to claim a replay that the other United barely deserved.

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The fact is that from the time the excellent James Collins put West Ham ahead, expertly directing an exquisite Joe Cole cross past David De Gea in the 59th minute, the Hammers looked good value for their lead and, barring a header over from Giggs just before the 90 minutes clocked up, the home side looked in control.

Of course, we knew 'Fergie time' was looming and there was always a feeling that Manchester United wouldn't need a few chances to convert one. But West Ham were playing so well in the last half hour that the league leaders rarely looked as if they would get back into a game in which they had taken a first half lead.

During a first ten minutes in which West Ham were pushed back and forced to defend deep, it did seem as if this might be a long afternoon at the Boleyn. With Paul Scholes controlling play in front of him, the ball seemed to zip from side to side in West Ham's penalty area as claret and blue shirts chased back and forth. But gradually, the home side pulled their way back into contention and the first half hour of the match saw both sides looking to strike on the break.

The returning Cole oozed class and composure while young Danny Potts -- a player I saw desperately trying to impress in a dire Colchester United side just before Christmas -- looked calm and confident at the back. Of course, Manchester United had rested some players but it should also be remembered that West Ham left out two of their best players this term, Winston Reid and Mark Noble joining Matthew Jarvis on the bench, while James Tomkins and Collins formed a formidable partnership at the heart of the Iron's defence.

Although the home side were on an equal footing midway during the first half, it was the visitors who went ahead after 23 minutes. Tom Cleverley did not have to be that smart to steer home when left totally unmarked after Javier Hernandez sent the ball across the face of goal. The player took it well certainly, but Collison really got pulled adrift as the move built up, and Manchester United's England player had plenty of time to think and place the ball.

Fortunately, the Reds' lead lasted only four minutes. Cole whipped in a cross that Collins was able to head into the net without moving too much, thanks in part to the shove from Nemanja Vidic that had given him a yard of space. The speed and flight of the ball meant that only a touch was required from Collins.

This was good stuff now. Carlton Cole was holding the ball up well, Joe Cole himself looked keen to make an impression while Collison, Kevin Nolan and Alou Diarra harried and tussled in midfield. At halftime, the game was finely balanced.

In the second half, Manchester United took the time to try and control the midfield, patiently attempting to build and test the West Ham defence. But the home side did everything that Sam Allardyce could have asked of them; keeping their composure and shape in an inspiring performance that soon had the vociferous crowd behind them. In fact, it was Carlton Cole who had the best chance in that period, De Gea pulling off a good save from the centre-forward's header after a fine cross from Joe Cole.

With the game becoming stretched, there was a sense that something was coming and it duly arrived just before the hour. In an almost identical play to the first goal, Joe Cole sent in a superb cross that Collins diverted again into the top corner.

Leading 2-1, West Ham now probably looked at their most impressive, not because they probed or worried the Manchester United defence, but rather with Ferguson throwing on first Van Persie and then Giggs to try and coax something from his team, the home side simply went about cutting out passes, crowding attacking moves and generally remaining positive. West Ham were happy to take the game to the visitors when chance allowed with substitute Matt Jarvis -- who replaced the ineffective Ricardo Vaz Te just after Collins' goal -- often getting in behind the Reds' back-four.

Joe Cole came off to a rapturous reception after 78 minutes, Matthew Taylor replacing him to tighten up the midfield, just five minutes after Noble had replaced Diarra. The substitutions were positive and only served to suggest that West Ham could really see this out.

With ninety minutes looming, Manchester United had barely mustered a shot to worry Jaaskelainen and it was cruel fortune that dictated that the equaliser didn't even come in the time usually alloted for late Reds winners or equalisers. In fact, most of the four minutes injury time -- a fair portion of it allocated for a bad nose bleed suffered by Joe Cole -- meant the home side had to suffer a punishing push for a winner, with Antonio Valencia blazing over when handily placed in the last minute.

So a draw and a replay at Old Trafford. Certainly, on this form, this is not a forlorn hope for West Ham, but there will inevitably be a sense that this was a golden opportunity missed. However, in terms of the season beyond the FA Cup, this performance only showed that the Hammers under Allardyce are a tricky bunch and the recruitment of Joe Cole could be a masterstroke.

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