Manchester United drew goalless with Aston Villa in a recent Premier League match to earn a point that seemed to be quite a gain for the club at the moment. Amid speculations about Erik ten Hag’s future, it was not easy for the Red Devils to visit Villa Park.
Aston Villa was the more fancied team ahead of the clash, but Manchester United did just about enough to hand on and could have even snatched a victory if Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick had not hit the crossbar.
However, the reality is that United has scored only five goals in their seven Premier League matches, of which three came in the match against Southampton. This means that United has scored only two goals in six other matches, which is quite a deplorable return.
In comparison, Manchester City and Arsenal have scored 17 and 15 goals, respectively, so far this season. The gulf in class between those teams and Manchester United could not be more obvious than what is represented by that piece of statistics.
Erik ten Hag Managed to Cling to Job for Now
However, more than the unproductive draw, what stood out was the fact that ten Hag managed to save his job for the time being. It seemed more like a point earned than one lost, as the Red Devils kept Villa at bay.
There was a little more intent in terms of pressing high and having numbers upfront, too, as far as United was concerned. However, United still remains a team that plays with two left wingers, one of whom is forced to play on the right. As Marcus Rashford, who started on the left, got substituted in the second half, Alejandro Garnacho got an opportunity to play on the left.
There were sporadic attacks through that flank by Rashford in the first half, but the intensity was not at a level expected from a club like Manchester United. Villa did not have the best of the outings either, but Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey threatened for them at times.
Johnny Evans, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, did put in an impressive performance in United’s defence. However, more was expected from Rasmus Højlund, who now has a solitary goal from five matches this season, and Antony, who came into the right flank in the second half, but did little of note other than having an attempt at goal.
Such ordinary performances have become the norm at United these days and hence, they do not raise much fresh concerns either. However, it is up to the United management to decide whether they can continue to be satisfied by such displays.
Manchester United Has Easier Fixtures Later This Month
United will take on Brentford and West Ham United this month and could have hardly asked for easier oppositions, given West Ham’s current form. However, that is by no means a reason to presume that Manchester United will score a lot of goals against them, although Chelsea and Liverpool have done so in the recent past.
If United drops points in both its remaining fixtures in October, it should continue to find itself in the bottom half of the league table. That will hardly be a good place to be in, with a quarter of the season over.