MAN UTD 0, HULL CITY 0
Jose Mourinho gave journalists a briefing on how to do their job after he was asked after decisions that went against Manchester United as they were held at home by bottom-three side Hull City.
The Reds’ manager refused to be drawn knowing full well he risked the wrath of the FA if he criticised match officials.
Mourinho said: “I don’t want to speak about the referee and decisions. You ask questions I cannot give answers as if I speak I am punished, and don’t want to be punished.
“There is one rule for me. I was told to sit down or go to the stand, but another official said to Jurgen Klop I admire your passion.
“For me it is the job of journalists to tell the truth. If you watch us game after game you will see what happened against Manchester City, Burnley, West Ham, Stoke.
“Say we could have played better in the first half, but do your job and a public service and tell the truth.”
Mourinho was frustrated by Hull’s spoiling tactics, but would not criticise them saying he would have done the same in their plight.
And his brief overview of the game, before cutting short his post-match press conference, he said: “It was 0-0.It was a good point for them and a bad point for us.
“We have another game this weekend, and have to keep going.”
United were denied by a superb display from Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic as the 32-year-old Swiss international made four stunning saves.
Yet at the end with the Reds, taking huge risks in pursuit of a winning goal, were almost undone as Hull had two gilt-edged chances to win the game.
Lazar Markmovic struck the inside of the upright and Abel Hernandez was clean through only for Ander Herrera to chase back to put off the striker who shot weakly at David De Gea.
But the two points that slipped away could prove costly in United’s pursuit of a top-four place and Champions League football next season.
The Reds remain sixth and four points adrift of fourth place as they could have made inroads into the deficit in a midweek in which Arsenal lost while leaders Chelsea and Tottenham were held.
It was a case of renewing rivalries as this was the third meeting in 23 days between the two clubs with one win apiece.
United made nine changes from Sunday’s Emirates FA Cup win against Wigan Athletic with Marcos Rojo and Henrikh Mkhitaryan the two survivors.
The Reds had all their big guns back, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and David De Gea.
Hull, without talisman Robert Snodgrass, sold to West Ham and Jake Livermore to West Brom, made a lively start.
And they might have snatched a seventh-minute lead when Harry Maguire’s diving header from a free kick flew narrowly wide.
A terrific 30-yard drive from Ibrahimovic brought a flying fingertip save from Jakupovic and from the resulting corner Rojo’s header dipped just over the crossbar.
It was an opening half of few chances, though United almost took the lead four minutes before the break.
An audacious back heel by Ibrahimovic released Paul Pogba who was denied by a brilliant save by Jakupovic to deflect his shot over the crossbar.
United made a change at the break as Wayne Rooney took over from Michael Carrick.
And there was a second switch nine minutes after the restart when Chris Smalling was summoned to replace the injured Phil Jones
United had a great chance to break the deadlock when Marcus Rashford latched on to a long ball over the Hull defence, but he rolled his shot harmlessly wide. And Ibrahimovic then hit shot wide on the turn.
Mourinho made his third change just after the our when Juan Mata was introduced in place of Mkhitaryan.
Jukupovic made his third super stop of the night to somehow keep out a close-range shot from Mata after Ibrahimovic headed the ball across the face of goal.
With United forced to take risks, they left themselves open at the back and Hull so nearly punished them.
Tom Huddlestone released Liverpool loanee Markovic who struck the inside of the upright in the 86th minute.
Hernandez then latched on to a long through ball but, under pressure from Herrera, was unable to finish.
In six-and-a-half minutes of stoppage time, United had two further chances to take maximum points, but Jakupovic was unbeatable, this time denying Rojo and Pogba.