Manchester United 0-0 Watford: Profligate hosts held by Hornets

Match report and free highlights as host of squandered Man Utd chances allow Watford to leave Old Trafford with point; Both sets of players call for peace on pitch amid Ukraine-Russia crisis; Point leaves United fourth, two ahead of Arsenal, second-bottom Watford are three from safety

Jack Wilkinson

@jacktwilkinson

Saturday 26 February 2022 20:30, UK

Manchester United left the door open to their top-four rivals as Watford boosted their survival hopes with a plucky 0-0 draw at a disgruntled Old Trafford.

In a poignant moment before a ball had been kicked, both sets of players, led by United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, displayed a sign calling for peace following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On the pitch, United were superior throughout but were guilty of squandering a glut of gilt-edged chances, as they missed the chance to move to within a point of third-placed Chelsea, and failed to respond to wins for Arsenal and Tottenham in the fiercely-contested race for Champions League football.

Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by the post in the first half, had an effort ruled out for offside and watched on as Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Anthony Elanga failed to capitalise on United's dominance.

As United toiled, Watford, who were indebted to an inspired performance from their former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, grew in confidence and could have completed a league double over their hosts when Ismaila Sarr's stoppage-time effort whistled inches wide.

All-too-familiar boos rang out as the final whistle sounded as Roy Hodgson, who is now unbeaten in his last four visits to Old Trafford, guided second-bottom Watford to a point which leaves them three from safety. Fourth-placed United move two points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal but having played three games more.

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Man Utd top-four challenge falters

It was an underwhelming end to an afternoon which began in promising fashion. Ronaldo hit the post with a fifth-minute effort, and had Bruno Fernandes squared to his compatriot instead of going alone moments later, United might have led. Instead, Foster superbly thwarted his attempt.

Ronaldo eventually had the ball in the Watford net when he turned home Fernandes' cross, only to see it ruled out for offside.

Chances continued to pass United by, with Fernandes unable to find the target while stretching to reach Paul Pogba's cross, before he headed over after Ronaldo had rounded Foster and stood a cross up to the far post.

United wanted a penalty before the break when the lively Elanga went down under a challenge from Craig Cathcart, but referee Kevin Friend was unmoved.

After Watford centre-back Samir had headed wide, and Pogba had miscalculated a volley early in the second half, United saw another penalty appeal turned down when Ronaldo went to ground following contact from Hassane Kamara.

Elanga failed to cap an electric individual performance when he fired wide at the end of a slick United attack, before the 19-year-old inadvertently blocked an effort from Ronaldo on the goal line.

Rangnick introduced Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw late on but to no avail, as United reached the full-time whistle fortunate to have secured a point, with Sarr firing inches wide of David de Gea's goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

Man Utd fire another blank - Opta stats

Manchester United have failed to score in five of their 14 Premier League home games this season - they last failed to net in more home league games in a season in 2013-14 (6).
Roy Hodgson (W2 D2) is the fourth manager to go unbeaten in four consecutive away Premier League games against Manchester United, after Jurgen Klopp, Sean Dyche and Steve McClaren.
Watford have avoided defeat in three of their last four league meetings with Manchester United (W2 D1 L1), after losing 14 of their previous 15 league clashes with the Red Devils (W1).

Rangnick: Two points dropped

Man Utd interim boss Ralf Rangnick: "It feels once again like two points dropped that we should have easily won. I think we did everything apart from scoring and had enough chances to win that game. But we didn't. And that's why we draw and dropped two important points in a very important game.

"I think we had enough chances. In the first half we had four clear, clear opportunities that normally are enough to score at least one or two goals. And in the second half it was similar. So yes, in the end, it's as I said about efficiency, about being clinical in front of goal. And this is not for the first time, unfortunately.

"It's difficult to say [why we miss chances]. Our job as coaches and the head coaches is to help the team create enough chances. If we only had two or three opportunities in the game, we could ask ourselves, "Well, what can we do to create even more chances?" But I think the number of clear chances we had today have to be enough to win a game like this."

Toothless United surrender top-four advantage

Sky Sports' Jack Wilkinson at Old Trafford:

It was a draw that will have felt like a defeat for Manchester United - and the boos from the disgruntled Old Trafford contingent were so familiar as not to be questioned.

United registered 22 attempts on the Watford goal, but not a single one of them managed to break the deadlock and secure the three points so desperately needed for their top-four challenge. But when you consider that just three of those 22 attempts were on target, a familiar, deep-rooted issue raised its head once again at Old Trafford.

Rangnick had just one recognised out-and-out striker at his disposal. Granted, it was Cristiano Ronaldo, but when his early volley had proven fruitless, there was nowhere left for United to turn.

With United's profligacy hampering Fernandes, Pogba and even Elanga, a player who continues to deliver such youthful exuberance to this team, how Rangnick will have yearned for the services of the industrious Edinson Cavani.

His absence continues to be felt by Manchester United, but now more important issues are on the horizon. With Arsenal two points behind having played three games fewer, United's occupation of fourth place is sham.

They are playing catch up, and if that wasn't already patently clear, it has to be now.

Hodgson: Hornets deserved point

Watford boss Roy Hodgson: "It's always going to be hard-fought draw here. We have a real top-class goalkeeper, certainly Premier League class and possibly above that. If you going to play up here, as we did today with the team we had to put out, you are going to need Ben Foster because there is no way we can be good enough to restrict them to not even one chance in the game.

"The boys did as much as we could ask of them today. I'm really proud of their performance and they should be proud of their performance. I expected to go into the dressing room to see people leaping about with glee, but I didn't see that. They obviously have very high expectations of themselves.

"The thing that is most pleasing today is that we did get a good draw up here and we got it by working hard and playing quite well. We should be able to believe that if we can keep reproducing performances like that, then we will pick up points. Man United are still one of the best teams in the league."

Man of the Match - Ben Foster

At 38 years & 329 days old, Watford's Ben Foster became the oldest visiting goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

What's next?

Man Utd travel to Man City for the Manchester derby on Super Sunday - live at 4.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League. Before that, Watford host Arsenal on Super Sunday - live at 1.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League.