Manchester United far from super at Leeds in another goalless draw
Manchester United's Luke Shaw and Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United battle for the ball at Elland Road. Picture: Peter Powell/PA Wire
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw Manchester United move to within four points of guaranteed Champions League football but in a week that was all about a new proposed elite league, this was a far from super performance.
The United manager’s decision to limit the minutes of Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani backfired - particularly with United crying out for goals and the latter not thrown on until the 86th minute.
With the club’s owners and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward also, predictably, absent from Elland Road, the political fallout from recent events was again prominent, with a plane flown over the ground before kick-off calling for the Glazers to leave United.
It was United’s eighth goalless draw of the campaign, ending a run of five straight league wins, but at least brought a point which keeps the Reds well on course for a runner-up spot.
A competitive, if uninspired, first half did not see either keeper required to make a meaningful save until the final minute when Marcus Rashford’s accurate 25-yard free-kick was turned away by the flying Illan Meslier.
Harry Maguire, arguably, missed an even better chance from the resulting corner, heading well wide from an unmarked position after he was picked out by Luke Shaw.
But they were rare glimpses of goal in a game that was full-blooded but a little too frantic by both teams when in possession.
Maguire had also missed an earlier set-piece, kneeing the ball over from six yards following Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick; while United had to survive a handball appeal against Shaw, as well as a Stuart Dallas shot which was straight at keeper Dean Henderson.
The best chances continued to fall United’s way after the restart, Fernandes screwing a good chance wide after Dan James picked him out and Mason Greenwood drawing another routine save from Meslier.
James should also have done better, on the end of United’s best move of the magic following a brilliant touch by Greenwood that allowed Rashford two pick out the Welsh international who was quickly dispossessed by Ezgjan Alioski.
But there were signs that Leeds carried a goal threat of their own with Helder Costa’s shot looping onto the roof of the goal via Aaron Wan-Bissaka and sub Mateusz Klich driving into the area but shooting straight at Henderson.
United boss Solskjaer felt fortune had not favoured his side on the day.
He told : “There are no guarantees in football, that’s for sure. I thought we played well, I thought we played really well, especially second half.
“I thought we dominated, didn’t really give any chances away, just didn’t have the ball fall correctly for us in the second half in the big moments we had.
“We had some decent chances, but unfortunately we couldn’t take them.”
Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips admitted he had relished the battle against United.
“That’s what we’re about, Leeds, as a club. As a team, we love to dig in and just make it hard for teams when they come here, especially teams like United.
“But it was a good game. I really enjoyed it, having a battle with the midfielders and everyone on the park.”
Meslier 7; Ayling 7, Llorente 7, Struijk 8, Alioski 7; Phillips 6; Costa 6 (Klich 72, 6), Dallas 6, Roberts 7 (Koch 76, 6), Harrison 5 (Poveda-Campo 68, 6); Bamford 7. Casilla, Hernandez, Berardi, Summerville, S Greenwood, Shackleton.
Henderson 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 7, Maguire 6, Shaw 7; McTominay 7, Fred 6 (van de Beek 89); James 6 (Pogba 76, 6), Fernandes 7, Rashford 6 (Cavani 85); M Greenwood 7. De Gea, Bailly, Mata, Telles, Matic, Tuanzebe.
C Pawson 6.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
