Manchester United missed out on their chance to close the gap on the top four after drawing with Hull City at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho’s side toiled in front of goal and only had themselves to blame as the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata wasted clear cut openings.
The Red Devils remain four points behind fourth placed Liverpool and failed to take advantage of the weekend’s favourable results.
Hull’s point lifts them off the bottom of the Premier League, but the Tigers sit four points adrift of safety, following Swansea’s win over Southampton.
United started the brighter of the two sides and made an immediate impression on the Old Trafford faithful inside three minutes.
A lovely chipped pass by Ander Herrera ran perfectly into the path of Henrikh Mkhitaryan as the midfielder bore down on goal. But a perfectly timed challenge by Andrew Robertson prevented an early breakthrough for the Red Devils.
Marco Silva’s side managed to edge past the half hour mark unscathed and had Tom Huddlestone to thank for keeping the scores goalless.
Eldin Jakupovic raced 35-yards to deal with a lofted ball over the top and saw his clearance land at the feet of Herrera. The Spaniard was set to play in two completely free United attackers, before Huddlestone intervened to produce another fine measured tackle.
But the home side only had poor finishing to blame for ending the half goalless as Pogba wasted the game’s biggest opening.
Michael Carrick’s direct pass from the halfway line found Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose backheel released Pogba, as the French midfielder looked set score. Pogba, however, showed a sheer lack of composure as he shot straight into the body of Jakupovic.
United continued from where they left off in the first half and came close again through Rashford.
Pogba’s long ball was expertly controlled by Rashford and looked set to finally put the hosts in front. But a lack of connection cost Rashford and his side, as the striker rushed his effort and watched the ball trickle harmlessly out of play.
The home side continued to press and Mata was presented with a golden opportunity to finally put the Red Devils ahead.
Herrera found substitute Chris Smalling at the back post as the defender headed across goal for his teammate to tap home. But despite looking certain to score, Mata saw his effort clawed off the line by Jakupovic and the chance had gone.
Having survived the home onslaught in the second half, Hull came within inches of stealing all three points with five minutes left to play.
Huddlestone released Lazar Markovic and steadied himself to take a shot on goal. The on-loan midfielder gave David de Gea the eyes, leaving the United goalkeeper stranded, but the ball bounced off the post and out of danger.
Both sides exchanged desperate last ditch attacks, but they proved to be fruitless as Mourinho’s side failed to take advantage of their rivals’ slipups.
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