FA Cup final: West Ham United throw support behind Manchester United for Wembley match

Victory for Red Devils at Wembley would mean West Ham qualify for next season's Europa League

West Ham will be hoping Manchester United prevail in the FA Cup final, having beaten the Hammers en route to Wembley (2016 Manchester United FC)

Manchester United will not be lacking for support when they take on Crystal Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final - and they Old Trafford side have now garnered support from a fellow Premier League side.

Victory for Louis van Gaal's side at Wembley would give the Dutchman a first trophy in England and United a first FA Cup since 2004. It would also be their 12th FA Cup - equalling Arsenal's record.

A win for the Lancashire team would also result in West Ham qualifying for next season's Europa League.

Manchester United have already claimed a Europa League place through their league position - Van Gaal's side finishing the campaign in fifth following their 3-1 win over Bournemouth last Tuesday.

Should they also claim a place through winning the FA Cup, that place would go to the highest league finisher not already in Europe (West Ham) - and not the losing FA Cup finalist, as had been the case in recent seasons.

Therefore Hammers fans will be just as keen observers of events at Wembley on Saturday afternoon as those of an Eagle or Red Devil persuasion.

"Dear Manchester United," the club's Facebook page wrote in a message. "Please win today. Yours sincerely, West Ham United FC."

The East London side finished the campaign in seventh position after a late poor run, ceding sixth place and the final automatic European qualification spot to Southampton on the final day.

Their journey in this season's Europa League - which they reached by virtue of their Fair Play record - lasted three rounds, Slaven Bilic's side losing to Astra Giurgiu in the third qualifying round in early August.

They would enter the Europa League at the same stage should Man United prevail - the first leg taking place on 28 July and the second leg on 4 August.

The home leg would likely be the first match at the club's new ground, the Olympic Stadium.

This is, of course, not the first time the Upton Park side have used social media to message Manchester United this season.

Manchester United's FA Cup replay visit in April, which the visitors of course won, prompted the Hammers' twitter feed to reference the Red Devils' problems in reaching Tottenham on time in a League match days earlier, reminding them of the kick-off time.

The club's next meeting, at Upton Park in the Premier League earlier this month, also resulted in kick-off problems, as the Manchester United team bus was stuck in traffic ahead of West Ham's last ever match at the Boleyn Ground venue, and was attacked by home supporters.