EPL

Manchester United 0-0 Watford: Wayward Red Devils suffer top-four setback

By Sports Desk February 26, 2022

Manchester United's top-four aspirations suffered a setback as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Watford.

United appeared to have found their goalscoring touch during a 4-2 win at Leeds United last Sunday.

But they reverted back to what has often been their type under Ralf Rangnick, dominating possession and chances but ultimately disappointing in front of goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Elanga and Paul Pogba were all guilty of spurning opportunities as struggling Watford clung on to claim a valuable point in a result that will serve as a further boost to United's rivals in the chase for Champions League football.

United quickly set about an onslaught on the Watford goal and saw a pair of gilt-edged chances go begging as Ronaldo turned and struck the left-hand post from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross, and Bruno Fernandes could only shoot straight at Ben Foster after a wonderful move involving Ronaldo and Anthony Elanga.

Ronaldo then had the ball in the net only to be correctly flagged for offside, before Fernandes skewed wide from Paul Pogba's cross with the goal at his mercy.

Fernandes was soon guilty of similar profligacy, heading wide under no pressure after Ronaldo had skipped over Foster and found his compatriot with a cross from the right.

Pogba made a dismal waste of a superb far-post ball as United continued in the ascendancy after the interval.

Ronaldo was aghast not to see Kevin Friend point to the spot after he went down under Hassane Kamara's challenge, and all around Old Trafford were stunned not to see Elanga find the back of the net after he latched on to a deft flick from Pogba.

There was further incredulity when Elanga then inadvertently blocked a goal-bound effort from Ronaldo following excellent work down the left byline from Fernandes.

Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford were each thrown into the fray as United sought the breakthrough.

But a deserved winner did not arrive as Watford secured a stalemate that will be cheered heartily in London with Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham all chasing United.

Related items

  • Onana insists Man Utd will 'step up' under Amorim Onana insists Man Utd will 'step up' under Amorim

    Andre Onana is confident he and his "pragmatic" Manchester United team-mates will "step up" under incoming boss Ruben Amorim. 

    The Portuguese will officially take over the reins at Old Trafford on November 11, succeeding Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed last week following a poor start to the season.

    Amorim masterminded Sporting CP's 4-1 victory over Manchester City on Tuesday in what was his final home game in charge of the reigning Primeira Liga champions.

    The 39-year-old's preferred formation is 3-4-3, compared to the 4-2-3-1 system utilised by Ten Hag and continued by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.

    However, Onana insists United's squad will have no problem adapting to the new tactics.

    "I did watch [Sporting's game against City] yesterday, it was a great victory for them," the goalkeeper said ahead of United's Europa League clash with PAOK on Thursday. "It's a different system, but my team-mates are all pragmatic.

    "I think everyone here is capable of playing in each system, so I don't think this will be an issue for us. We have big players, they will step up."

    Meanwhile, ahead of his penultimate match in charge, Van Nistelrooy provided an update on pre-season signing Leny Yoro.

    The defender, who is yet to make his competitive debut for the Red Devils, returned to full training on Wednesday having fractured his foot in August.

    "He's been managed very well after his injury in pre-season," the interim boss said. "Obviously, we knew it was going to be a long one.

    "It's a big moment for him as it's the first time that he's been back in full training. We will bring him back partially over the coming weeks, and look to get him on board as soon as possible."

  • Iraola prepared for 'very, very difficult game' away to Brentford Iraola prepared for 'very, very difficult game' away to Brentford

    Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola expects a difficult game away to Brentford on Saturday, despite having taken seven points from their last three matches against top-four finishers.

    The Cherries inflicted Manchester City's first league defeat of the season last weekend, while they had done the same to Arsenal two weeks before and earned a point at Villa Park between those matches.

    "I'm not going to lie, we didn't expect seven points. Definitely, we didn't expect these points," he told the Bournemouth Echo.

    “But it's true that it’s not the end of anything. We have to recover tomorrow and next week we go Brentford away.

    “The way they are playing at home, it's going to be a very, very difficult game again and we have to continue to try to give us chances because it's going to be very difficult. This is the Premier League,”

    Antoine Semenyo opened the scoring against City last week and is Bournemouth's top scorer with four goals. Iraola will be looking for another performance from him at the Gtech Community Stadium.

    “He has been playing very well all the season," said Iraola.

    “I think we demand him a lot because I think he can give a lot, and today probably he scores and everyone gives him more recognition.”

    “I think Antoine is going to be always dangerous for every centre back, every full back that he attacks."

    But ahead of their trip to Brentford, there was no chance of Iraola getting carried away with his side's recent form.

    “To win one game in the Premier League against any team is very difficult," he said.

    “You have to do a lot of things well. So, we have to continue because we need more points and we want to continue building and take advantage because we've got these points now against these teams.

    “So, let's try to take this advantage and not lose it straight away.”

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Brentford – Bryan Mbeumo

    Mbeumo has scored in all five of his Premier League appearances at home this season, with seven of his eight league goals coming at the Gtech Community Stadium.

    The Cameroonian is equal-second in the Premier League top scorer standings on eight, level with Chris Wood and three behind Erling Haaland.

    Bournemouth – Antoine Semenyo

    Semenyo scored his fourth goal of the season last weekend, opening the scoring in Bournemouth's 2-1 victory at home to Manchester City.

    The Ghanaian is his club's top scorer and has had the second-most shots (42) of any player in the Premier League this season.

    MATCH PREDICTION: BRENTFORD WIN

    Brentford come into this match having won four of their five Premier League home games this season, drawing the other.  No side has picked up more home points in the competition this season so far than the Bees (13, level with Man City), while no side has scored more home goals than Thomas Frank’s side (15, level with Tottenham).

    That isn't great news for Bournemouth, who have kept just one clean sheet in the Premier League this season. They are also yet to keep a clean sheet in any of their six games on the road in all competitions so far, while Bournemouth's only away win this season was a 3-2 victory over 16th-placed Everton in August

    Brentford are also unbeaten in their last seven matches against Bournemouth (W5 D2), which is a run that stretches back to August 2014. In fact, Bournemouth haven't won a league game away to Brentford since October 2005 (D5 L4), in which they beat them 2-0 when both teams were in League One.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Brentford – 44.1%

    Draw – 26.8%

    Bournemouth – 29%

  • 'A very important win' - Sahin relieved after Dortmund scrape past Sturm Graz 'A very important win' - Sahin relieved after Dortmund scrape past Sturm Graz

    Nuri Sahin lauded "a very important win" for Borussia Dortmund, after Donyell Malen's late strike sealed a narrow 1-0 victory over Sturm Graz.

    Last year's Champions League finalists claimed their third win from four matches in this season's competition, with substitute Malen securing all three points with five minutes remaining.

    The Netherlands international executed a neat one-two with Serhou Guirassy to put Dortmund fourth in the league table on nine points.

    And though they left it late, Sahin felt his side were worthy of their victory.

    "A very important win," he told reporters during his post-match press conference. "It was a deserved win, even if we scored late. We controlled the game for the most time.

    "We stayed clear. I thought it would happen earlier [the goal]. But even though we scored a late goal, it's nine points for us so far."

    Meanwhile, Sturm Graz are left rooted to the foot of the table, and still seeking their first points of the competition.

    "In my opinion, we had the better opportunities in the phase before they scored," coach Christian Ilzer said.

    "But then the goal was scored and we were left empty-handed. That's very annoying. But we have to take the lead in a game like this."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.