Manchester United vs Hull City. Premier League.
Old TraffordAttendance75,297.
Friday 3 February 2017 13:58, UK
Manchester United missed the chance to make up ground on the top four in the Premier League after they were held 0-0 at home by Hull on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic was the hero for Marco Silva's side, denying Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba in the first half before saving superbly from Juan Mata on the line in the 72nd minute.
Jakupovic then kept out a late shot from Pogba, but Hull could have snatched victory as Lazar Markovic hit the post and Abel Hernandez failed to control after being played through on goal.
The point lifts Hull off the foot of the table while United stay sixth, four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
United have now drawn six league games at Old Trafford this season and this result will no doubt be doubly frustrating for Jose Mourinho after seeing all of the top four fail to win on Tuesday.
Mourinho also appeared to be aggrieved that Oumar Niasse was not sent off for two late tackles, having been booked early in the match.
This was the third meeting between United and Hull in 2017 after also facing off in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, and both sides made a number of changes from their FA Cup encounters at the weekend.
Marcus Rashford made his first United start in the Premier League since November while Marcos Rojo kept his place in defence.
Niasse and Markovic started for Hull while another January signing, Andrea Ranocchia, was on the bench.
It was United who created the first opening as Ander Herrera chipped a pass over the top for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but Andrew Robertson cleared before the Armenian could finish.
Hull went close when Harry Maguire headed wide from a free-kick before Jakupovic tipped a shot from Ibrahimovic past the post in the 14th minute.
Niasse was perhaps fortunate not be sent off when he caught Michael Carrick late, having already been booked.
United were largely subdued although they did create an excellent opening before half-time.
Ibrahimovic, who minutes earlier had seen a low shot saved, flicked on Carrick's pass to play in Pogba, but he could not beat Jakupovic, who saved well with one hand.
Wayne Rooney was introduced at half-time for Carrick, but still United could not find a breakthrough.
Rashford scuffed wide after brilliantly controlling a ball over the top before Ibrahimovic shot past the post.
Niasse again escaped a second booking when he caught Daley Blind, but it looked as though United would break the deadlock in the 72nd minute when Chris Smalling headed across goal to Mata at the back post, only for Jakupovic to save his effort on the line.
Markovic then hit the post for Hull after being slipped in by Tom Huddlestone before Hernandez failed to control when he was beyond the last defender.
The final chance fell to Pogba but again he was denied by a fine save from Jakupovic.
Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Valencia (6), Jones (6), Rojo (6), Blind (6), Ander Herrera (5), Carrick (5), Pogba (6), Mkhitaryan (5), Ibrahimovic (5), Rashford (5).
Subs: Mata (5), Rooney (5), Smalling (5).
Hull: Jakupovic (8), Tymon (7), Dawson (7), Maguire (7), Robertson (7), Meyler (7), Huddlestone (7), Markovic (6), Evandro (6), Clucas (6), Niasse (5).
Subs: Hernandez (5), Ranocchia (5), Elabdellaoui (5).
Man of the match: Eldin Jakupovic.
