Leeds United 0, Manchester United 0
Leeds United earned a fifth draw at Elland Road against the so-called ‘Big Six’ sides this season as they held Manchester United to a stalemate.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was the seventh goalless draw of the season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – the most of any Premier League side this term – just one short of the 8 they notched up in the 1980-81 season.
Illan Meslier became the youngest goalkeeper at 21 years and 54 days to keep 10 clean sheets in the Premier League after Joe Hart at the age of 21 years and 134 days (for Manchester City), and United’s own David De Gea at 21 years and 153 days.
This game was a far cry from their meeting with Leeds at Old Trafford where both sides shared eight goals but the Reds at least extended their unbeaten top flight away run – it’s now at 24 which is 3 behind Arsenal’s record of 27 set in 2003/04.
In preserving their lengthy unbeaten record away from home United moved eight points clear of Leicester City in 3rd but Manchester City now only need 6 points to claim the Premier League title with the Reds trailing 10 points behind them.
Indeed, with a vastly superior goal difference City may only need 5 points to effectively win the title and could lift it as soon as next Sunday if they beat Crystal Palace on Saturday and United lose to Liverpool on Sunday.
Despite the draw ending their wining streak of 5 games in all competitions, Solskjaer was certain that the slight setback would not affect the Reds going into the Roma game on Thursday.
He said: “We’re disappointed to not get three points today but this is not going to be something that will derail our season.
After the tough examination delivered by Marcelo Bielsa, Solskjaer added: “We made them adjust to us, we had to adjust to them
“I thought we did it really well and put a big shift down.
“I have seen Leeds so many times run a team over in the second half and I thought we stopped them.”
Chances were few for both sides with Meslier saving from Marcus Rashford while Dean Henderson barely tested after a selection of easy to save shots from Leeds.
The Reds had a big game on the horizon against Roma and after a rare full week off went with a strong line-up in a bid to cut the gap to Manchester City but after a real battle at their Yorkshire rivals had to settle for a point.
Error strewn game ends goalless between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road
There was just one change from the Manchester United’s previous Premier League game, against Burnley at Old Trafford, with Paul Pogba replaced by Daniel James.
United were playing the same back four for the 6th time in succession in the league and Dean Henderson retained his place in the side.
Indeed, captain Harry Maguire hadn’t missed a single minute of the Reds’ last 71 Premier League games to equal Gary Pallister’s club record in the competition which was notched up between November 1993 and May 1995.
And the Reds got off to a slower start at Elland Road than at Old Trafford where they were 4-1 up at the break in a game which was littered with errors.
Marcus Rashford rolled an early shot wide of the back post after getting on an early pass from midfield.
Bruno Fernandes’ free kick was diverted over the bar by Harry Maguire who reacted slowly as the ball unexpectedly reached him as the Reds enjoyed a good start against Leeds.
But there was a VAR check after 20 minutes when the ball appeared to strike Luke Shaw’s arm but VAR dismissed the possibility of a handball for penalty.
Both sides were sloppy though, with Victor Lindelof passing the ball straight to Patrick Bamford but Leeds were unable to fashion anything from that unexpected break.
Fernandes was tripped by Kalvin Phillips in a dangerous area 20 yards out but the Portuguese blazed his free kick over the bar.
Leeds briefly threatened, with Stuart Dallas’ long range effort the best chance of the first half but his low rasper was well collected by Henderson.
United were not getting their usual joy from free kicks – Fernandes had a free kick from the left headed over by Leeds and Shaw saw his from the left evaded everyone.
Leeds were indebted to Meslier right on half time who tipped over Rashford’s dipping and swerving 25 yard free kick while Maguire headed over from the corner.
The Reds might have made more of a second half chance when James left the ball to Fernandes but Leeds made the clearance as both players hesitated.
Dallas evaded Wan-Bissaka and sent the ball across for Helder Costa but missed the Leeds front man.
Fernandes screwed the ball wide after Wan-Bissaka found some space upfield to cut the ball back – with James stepping aside in time to give the Portuguese room to shoot.
Mason Greenwood shot straight at Meslier while Ezgjan Alioski nicked the ball off James after Fernandes found him.
Leeds went up the other side and Costa saw his shot deflected onto the roof of the net after coming off Wan-Bissaka.
Rashford was fouled by Alioski after 66 minutes and Fernandes tried a cheeky chip to Rashford but Leeds had anticipated this and cleared the ball.
Leeds made the first change of the game after 68 minutes with Ian-Carlo Poveda-Ocampo replacing Jack Harrison and Helder Costa was replaced by Mateusz Klich after 72 minutes.
And Klich shot straight into the hands of Henderson after beating the offside trap while Ayling and delivered an easy save from outside the box.
Fernandes shot wide under pressure after Shaw found him with a ct back before Pogba came on to replaces James with 14 minutes to go for his 200th United match at the venue where he ironically made his Reds debut a decade ago.
Tyler Roberts was replaced by Robin Koch as signs that Leeds were accepting the draw first appeared.
Edinson Cavani replaced Rashford with 4 minutes to go and Meslier plucked the second ball out of the sky from a Fernandes corner routine.
Donny van de Beek replaced Fred for the final couple of minutes as both sides played out what remained of a poor game.
MATCH STATS – Leeds United 0, Manchester United 0
Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struck, Alioski, Phillips, Helder Costa (Klich 72), Dallas, Roberts (Koch 77), Harrison (Poveda-Ocampo 68), Bamford
Leeds United subs not used: Casilla, Hernandez, Berardi, Summerville, Greenwood, Shackleton
Booked: Ayling 36 (foul on Marcus Rashford), Roberts 39 (foul on Mason Greenwood); Alioski 64 (foul on Marcus Rashford); Bamford 70 (kicking the ball away)
Man Utd: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred (van de Beek 89), James (Pogba 76), Fernandes, Rashford (Cavani 86), Greenwood
Man Utd subs not used: De Gea, Bailly, Mata, Telles, Matic, Tuanzebe
Booked: Maguire 67 (foul on Tyler Roberts)
Referee: Craig Pawson