MAN UNITED 0, CRYSTAL PALACE 0
Jose Mourinho accused his Manchester United players of “lacking heart” after they were held at home by lowly Crystal Palace.
The goalless draw was further evidence of how far the Reds have slipped since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
The Reds looked a million miles from a side that will finish in the top four to claim a Champions League place.
And Mourinho admitted it was a “bad result” describing it as a case of two lost points.
Mourinho, who praised Palace saying they deserved their win, was painfully aware of his team’s shortcomings.
He said: “Crystal Palace deserve praise, but we have to blame ourselves for the result. We started well but couldn’t find a way to score.
“There was not enough intensity, not enough desire and they played the game like it was another game.
“It was not like that as we needed to win. If we play with the same philosophy against Young Boys we will lose and then have to go to Valencia and win.
“It was not just one game, but one of eight before the end of December and one we needed to win.
“My feeling is that there was not enough from the heart. You play with brain but there was not enough heart.”
Mourinho added the remedy is probably to make choice based on heart then blame himself as heart is not enough as quality would be missing.
One third of the way through the campaign, seventh-placed United are already 14 points behind leaders City with 13 games played.
More significant, though, they are already six points shy of Tottenham who are fourth.
Those stats make pretty dismal reading for Jose Mourinho as the chorus of boos at the final whistle was also evidence the patience of fans is wearing thin.
Indeed, had Palace possessed a cutting edge they could well have left Old Trafford with three instead of one point.
Palace had 13 goal attempts to United’s 12 as they went toe to toe with their opponents as they were a threat throughout on the counter attack.
And Palace manager Roy Hodgson admitted on another day, and with lady luck on their side, they might have left Old Trafford as victors.
United made four changes to the team beaten comprehensively by neighbours City just before the international break.
Paul Pogba was back after injury and there were recalls for Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata and Matteo Darmian.
The players losing out were suspended left-back Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Marcus Rashford.
Anthony Martial had an early half chance for United and Paul Pogba fired well wide while for Palace Wilfried Zaha bent a shot over the bar in what was a lukewarm opening.
Zaha came closest to breaking the deadlock after 20 minute pulling a drive narrowly wide from 25 yards.
Palace had another great chance to take the lead on the break when Max Meyer and Patrick van Aanholt who dragged his show just wide when he ought to have hit the target.
United had a rare sight at goal when Chris Smalling headed wide from a free kick after keeper Wayne Hennessey missed the flight of the ball.
The Reds gradually eased their way into the game as Jesse Lingard forced a fine stop from Hennessey low to his right and Martial, following up, headed straight at the keeper.
United had an enormous let off just before half time when Cheikhou Kouyate had a goal ruled out as he strayed just offside before heading home a Luka Milivojevic free kick.
The Reds had a second goal ruled out for offside, this time Lukaku before he slotted home a shot from three yards after Hennessey palmed away an effort from Ashley Young.
United, in need of a breakthrough, made a double switch on the hour as Lingard and Mata were replaced by Fellaini and Rashford.
Palace remained a threat as Kouyate forced a decent save from David De Gea and van Aanholt, following up, shot straight at the keeper.
United made their third and final change with 22 minutes left when Pogba made way for Alexis Sanchez.
Palace ought to have taken a 74th minute lead when Andros Townsend burst clear after a barnstorming run only to pull his shot wide with only De Gea to beat.
United went close when Lukaku’s header from Darmian’s cross was superbly kept out by Hennessy who flung himself full length low to his left.
Rashford had a shot in the last minute that deflected just wide for a corner.
But in stoppage time Palace might have snatched victory when Kouyate broke forward and shot over as they finished the game on a high.