Bruno Fernandes.

Report: Leeds 0 United 0

Sunday 25 April 2021 15:50

Manchester United extended our unbeaten away record in the Premier League this season but had to settle for a point after a 0-0 draw with Leeds United.

A first visit to Elland Road for 11 years failed to live up to expectations in way of entertainment, particularly after eight goals in the corresponding fixture (six of them for the Reds) and a pre-match prediction from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that it was never going to finish goalless!

United had most of the play but lacked composure to finish off some of our best moves in a contest that clearly lacked the white-hot atmosphere that would have been provided by a stadium full of fans.

The boss made one change to the team that beat Burnley 3-1 last time out, with Daniel James in for Paul Pogba. Leeds were unchanged from their 1-1 draw with Liverpool, as Raphinha continues to be sidelined due to injury.

FIRST HALF - NO BREAKTHROUGH

The Reds made a positive start with Mason Greenwood mustering a header on target very early on, from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, even if it was comfortably fielded by Illan Meslier in the home goal. Marcus Rashford then got his finish all wrong after streaking onto a glorious long pass out of defence by Victor Lindelof, providing a let-off for the exposed Leeds defence.

Another Fernandes set-piece from the left again threatened Meslier's goal but it came to Harry Maguire at an awkward height and the skipper could not steer it on target with his knee.

Leeds had a handball shout against Luke Shaw checked by VAR when the left-back, playing with supreme confidence, could not really get out of the way after a misjudgement by Patrick Bamford, but there were few clear-cut chances in the opening half an hour.

Fernandes clipped a free-kick over the bar after he was fouled, a few minutes before Stuart Dallas had the hosts' first shot on target, which forced a simple save out of Dean Henderson, standing out in his brightly coloured orange socks in goal.

After 37 minutes, Rashford was flattened by Luke Ayling, who was booked for the cynical challenge, but Fernandes' ball in from the set-play, the fourth from the left of the half, flicked off Bamford's head and cleared the bar. The closest we came to a goal was in the closing stages of the half as Meslier produced a top save to tip away Rashford's free-kick, with Maguire nodding the resulting corner over the top.

SECOND HALF - STALEMATE CONTINUES

Things got a little spicier after the interval as both sides looked to inject some more passion into the proceedings. Greenwood's through ball should have created a clear opening, only for a mix-up between James and Fernandes over who would take it on allowed Leeds to clear.

Fernandes pushed further forward and crashed a drive wide following some lovely play by Aaron Wan-Bissaka before Meslier was forced into action to deny Greenwood, as the home defenders appealed for an offside flag.

Seconds later, Fernandes fired a fine ball to Rashford, who fed James, but the Wales international was unable to work it on to Greenwood, who was unmarked and in space on the left-hand side of the box so, again, an opportunity was passed up. Leeds responded with a Helder Costa shot that deflected off Wan-Bissaka and landed on top of the net.

Dallas and Luke Ayling worked Henderson but the game became rather fractious with numerous fouls and constant complaining from the home contingent.

Despite the introduction of Pogba, for his 200th senior appearance for the club, and, late on, Edinson Cavani and Donny van de Beek, nothing of note really happened in the closing stages as both teams keep their recent unbeaten runs going.
Frustration for Marcus Rashford as United are unable to find a breakthrough.

MATCH DETAILS

Leeds: Meslier; Ayling (c), Strujik, Llorente, Alioski; Phillips, Dallas, Harrison (Poveda 68), Roberts (Koch 77), Costa (Klich 72); Bamford.

Subs not used: Casilla, Berardi, Hernandez, Shackleton, Summerville, S. Greenwood.

Booked: Ayling, Roberts, Alioski, Bamford.

United: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; Fred (van de Beek 89), McTominay; James (Pogba 76), Fernandes, Rashford (Cavani 86); Greenwood.

Subs not used: De Gea, Bailly, Telles, Tuanzebe, Mata, Matic.

Booked: Maguire.

 

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