Cancelled out: Tottenham, United fire blanks in exciting draw

The sides failed to hit the back of the net but created several chances

LONDON: Manchester United squandered an opportunity to put pressure on Premier League pace-setters Chelsea and Manchester City after they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

An outstanding display by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris together with wasteful United finishing meant Louis van van Gaal's side were denied an eighth victory in nine games.

Had United claimed three points, they would have increased the pressure on top two Chelsea and Manchester City.

Instead they were left to reflect on a missed opportunity, but Spurs, who finished the game strongly, also had cause for regret after failing to enhance their own challenge for a top-four finish.

Van Gaal's decision to name an unchanged side for the first time since he took charge at Old Trafford was a clear indication of the manager's growing satisfaction with his team's efforts after some good recent results.

Results, however, have told only part of the story, with United having failed to convince on occasion. However, that was not the case yesterday as The Red Devils produced perhaps their finest performance of the season in the first half according to their Dutch manager.

"We lost two points I think," United manager Van Gaal told BT Sport. "We had the best performance of Manchester United this season in the first half. We could have scored four or five goals and we didn't reward ourselves."

The draw extended United's unbeaten run to nine games, but sees them draw their second game in three matches after the win against Newcastle, which ended less than 48 hours before the kick-off at White Hart Lane, followed a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

Van Gaal kept faith with the team that had beaten Newcastle United 3-1 on Boxing Day and saw his side dominate the first half. Lloris saved from Radamel Falcao, twice, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, while Mata hit the post with a deflected free-kick and Phil Jones was denied by an offside flag after squeezing a header over the line.

United lost Antonio Valencia to injury at half-time, with Rafael da Silva coming on, but continued to make chances. Mata crossed for van Persie to volley over and later spooned a cut-back from Rafael into the stands.

But Spurs took control as the game wore on, with United goalkeeper David de Gea saving from Andros Townsend, Federico Fazio and Christian Eriksen, while Harry Kane cleverly teed up Ryan Mason to fire over.

Both sides had come into the game on the back of promising runs, with Tottenham having won their last four league matches and United having won seven out of their last eight but both will be disappointed as the point does little for their ambitions.

 

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THE HERO: Both keepers excelled in a lively match at White Hart Lane but Lloris was surely the star of the show as he made several superb saves to keep out United. PHOTO: AFP