Manchester United’s flimsy hopes of Champions League qualification officially ended with a limp 1-1 draw at relegated Huddersfield Town.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men needed victory to hold any hope of edging into the top four. They got off to a welcome start when Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay’s eight-minute drive comically went through Denmark goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
But the visitors to John Smith’s Stadium soon lost momentum and Belgium Under-21 forward Isaac Mbenza took advantage of some risible defending from Luke Shaw on the hour mark to slot under Spain No1 David de Gea. This low strike came either side of France centre midfielder Paul Pogba hitting the cross bar, with a header and curled shot.
MAN UNITED (4-3-1-2)
David de Gea 6: Nutmegged for the equaliser, but the troubled Spaniard was blameless – for once.
Ashley Young 6: The veteran right-back was a willing runner on the overlap and did uncharacteristically well with his crosses.
Victor Lindelof 6: Was no lingering impact from 2017/18’s horror show at the ground. Went straight down tunnel when substituted.
Phil Jones 5: Didn’t cover himself in glory with his positioning for leveller. Looked cumbersome throughout.
Luke Shaw 4: Positioning was laughable for the counter-attack that did for United.
Scott McTominay 6: You make your own luck and his pot shot somehow crept in for a second Premier League goal.
Nemanja Matic 5: Nothing good, nothing bad. Statuesque Serbia, however, does nothing to improve United’s laughable running statistics.
Paul Pogba 6: Hit the crossbar with a first-half header and second-half shot. Often looked up to see zero movement in front of him.
Juan Mata 5: Spain playmaker led the way with key passes for United. But never looks like making a telling impact.
Marcus Rashford 5: Mixed bag. Snatched at one second-half shot, then threatened from 25 yards. Inconsistency not surprising given youth and injury concerns.
Alexis Sanchez 4: No shots in his 53 minutes on the pitch, prior to coming off with yet another injury. Watching the descent of a once-great player is excruciating.
2012 - Manchester United haven't won their last away league game of the season since the 2011-12 campaign, when they won 1-0 at Sunderland on the final day. Despondent. #HUDMUN pic.twitter.com/RGxivkqjvF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 5, 2019
SUBSTITUTES
Ander Herrera 6: Added a bit of energy, as expected.
Tahith Chong 6: Raw, but talented. Messed up some touches, yet forced fine low save from Lossl.
Diogo Dalot N/A: Sight of Portuguese right-back jogging back for one counter-attack should alarm Solskjaer.
