Wasteful Manchester United’s top-four hopes take one other blow as Watford cling on for Old Trafford draw

Manchester United’s bid for a top-four Premier League end suffered a setback as they had been held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Watford at Old Trafford.

nited bossed possession however had been left ruing missed possibilities after a irritating outing that included Cristiano Ronaldo hitting a put up and Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba passing up alternatives, plus some good work from Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster and his team-mates.

Ralf Rangnick’s fourth-placed aspect at the moment are two factors away from fifth-placed Arsenal having performed three video games extra.

Second-bottom Watford, who memorably beat United 4-1 within the reverse fixture in November that proved to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final match in command of the Red Devils, are three factors from security.

They have picked up 5 factors from six video games following Roy Hodgson’s appointment as successor to Claudio Ranieri in January, together with their first win since that 4-1 sport.

Just previous to kick-off, the groups gathered collectively to carry up an indication displaying the phrase ‘Peace’, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, whereas a Ukraine flag could possibly be seen within the crowd.

After the competition received below manner, Ronaldo was inches away from giving United an early lead when he despatched a fifth-minute strike towards a put up.

United stored up the strain, with Fernandes having one shot blocked and one other properly saved by Foster when he may need handed to Ronaldo, who put the ball within the internet shortly afterwards, solely to see the flag up for offside.

Fernandes then did not profit from additional alternatives as he diverted Pogba’s supply vast on the stretch – beating the bottom afterwards in frustration – and headed over after Ronaldo had gone round Foster and crossed to his fellow Portuguese.

A breakthrough continued to show elusive for the hosts, with a scuffed Fred effort and curling Alex Telles free-kick going vast and no penalty being given regardless of United followers’ protests when Anthony Elanga went down below the attentions of Craig Cathcart simply earlier than the interval.

The second half opened with an opportunity for Watford as Samir headed vast from a nook, and after Pogba made a misjudgement on the different finish, connecting with a lofted ahead cross by sending the ball throughout the face of objective, David De Gea was known as into motion to save lots of an Emmanuel Dennis shot.

United probed once more with one other penalty declare, this time involving Ronaldo and Hassane Kamara, being dismissed, Elanga firing vast and Ronaldo seeing a shot blocked on the road.

Foster then did properly to say the ball when it headed goalwards off Ronaldo from a Fernandes cross.

Ronaldo looped a header onto the roof of the online and Fernandes was then thwarted by a high quality block by Samir.

Rangnick’s substitutions after the break had included bringing on Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, nevertheless it made no distinction as the sport ended goalless, with the closing levels seeing Sancho strike off-target and Fernandes have a long-range shot gathered by Foster earlier than Ismaila Sarr fired an effort vast of De Gea’s objective with just about the ultimate kick.