Manchester United draws with West Ham, extending fan's hair-cutting pledge
Manchester United drew 1-1 with West Ham, failing to secure a fifth consecutive victory. Fan Frank Ilett, who vowed not to cut his hair until the team achieved five straight wins, must continue waiting.
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Manchester United drew 1-1 with West Ham United in a Premier League match Tuesday, ending a run of four consecutive victories and preventing the club from reaching five straight wins.
West Ham took the lead through Tomas Soucek. Manchester United equalized in the 95th minute with a goal from Benjamin Sesko.
The result extended the wait for Frank Ilett, a Manchester United supporter who made a viral pledge in October 2024 to refrain from cutting his hair until the team achieved five consecutive victories. Ilett, 29, began his hair-growing challenge on October 5, 2024, during a period when Manchester United was experiencing its worst start to a Premier League season in the club's history.
Ilett described the original idea as intended to spread humor and positivity among supporters. Since making the pledge, he has documented his daily life with growing hair, posting at least one photo or video per day to show the progression. The documentation has made him a phenomenon on social media.
The pledge has now lasted more than 490 days without a haircut, spanning three different Manchester United managers—Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, and the current manager Michael Carrick. Ilett has accumulated a larger fan base through the process.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick acknowledged awareness of Ilett's pledge before the match. "I am conscious of it. My sons have made it known to me, but of course I won't mention it in the team talk," Carrick said.
The draw means Manchester United remains at four consecutive victories. The club had arrived at the match seeking to extend its winning streak under Carrick's management, which has seen the team climb the Premier League table.
Elsewhere in the Premier League on Tuesday, Chelsea drew 2-2 at home against Leeds United. Chelsea had taken a 2-0 lead through goals from João Pedro, a Brazilian striker who also drew a penalty. Leeds equalized with a goal in the 51st minute of the second half. The result left Chelsea with 44 points and Leeds with 45 points in the standings.