Manchester United suffered a damaging blow to their slim Women’s Super League title hopes with a 0-0 draw at West Ham.

Despite being on top throughout, United could not find the killer touch to penetrate resilient hosts who never stopped running in their bid to finish in the top half of the division.

United stay in third spot, two points behind Arsenal and five adrift of leaders Chelsea who have a game in hand.

Their remaining three league games are against Chelsea, neighbours Manchester City, who are fourth, and Arsenal.

West Ham started in positive fashion, befitting a side who have collected 90 per cent of their points at home this season.

Viviane Asseyi’s drilled free-kick flew into a dangerous area but Eva Nystrom could not locate the target with her header.

United took time to settle but Marc Skinner’s side gradually established control and began to create openings.

Elisabeth Terland won a battle for possession as the Hammers struggled to clear their lines and Celin Bizet reached the loose ball to rattle the crossbar.

Terland then sent a volley straight at Kinga Szemik in the Hammers goal and the hosts were fortunate to escape again as United pressure built.

Bizet worked her way past Verena Hanshaw to deliver a cross that Terland met but was deflected wide off the back of Li Mengwen.

The windy conditions were proving troublesome for both sets of players and Bizet’s corner nearly embarrassed Szemik as it clipped the crossbar on its way behind.

Szemik showed good positioning sense to gather headers from Leah Galton and Terland either side of the break before West Ham stirred from their attacking slumber.

United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce had to be alert to stop Nystrom profiting from a Hammers set-piece.

Shekiera Martinez also attempted an audacious acrobatic effort from Li Mengwen’s hanging cross but United continued to dominate possession and probe.

Grace Clinton fired over from 25 yards and Melvine Malard was also off target despite having time and space on her side.

The final five minutes were really frantic as the contest opened up and West Ham might have breached the meanest defence in the WSL.

The Hammers will be proud of their defensive display and team structure that frustrated United from the first whistle to the last.

FA Cup holders United have another Wembley final against Chelsea to look forward to next month but getting involved in the title race in the closing weeks of the season now looks beyond them.