Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

Match Report

Fans vent their frustration as Manchester United are held at home by Southampton

by

MAN UNITED 0, SOUTHAMPTON 0

The reaction of Manchester United’s fans summed up another frustrating performance as they were held at home by Southampton.

There were boos and jeers at both half and full time as United slipped from second to third place and 14 points behind Manchester City who can tomorrow extend their lead to 17 if they win at Crystal Palace.

This was United’s third successive draw after being held by Leicester and Burnley as they have hit a worrying dip in form.

Whereas not long ago they were well clear in second spot, suddenly a top-four place is under threat.

Raheem Sterling strike keeps Man City’s winning streak going at Newcastle United

by

NEWCASTLE UNITED 0, MANCHESTER CITY 1

Raheem Sterling’s goal ensured Manchester City earned their 18th straight Premier League win of a remarkable season at St James’ Park against a stubborn Newcastle United who refused to attack their guests until it was too late and twice came close to snatching a point.

Despite playing within themselves, City are now a staggering 15 points ahead of nearest rivals Manchester United with another round of fixtures to play before the end of 2017.

Pragmatic Rafa Benitez, the Magpies boss, played a weakened team, with more important relegation six pointers coming up against Brighton and Stoke City, while City boss Pep Guardiola shuffled his pack too following the 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

Guardiola benched Leroy Sane, and gave Fabian Delph the night off, while David Silva was also excused for family reasons once again. In came Bernardo Silva, Danilo, and Ilkay Gundogan but Guardiola had to make changes again after just 11 minutes after injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany had to go off yet again.

Super-sub Jesse Lingard’s injury-time equaliser prevents first Burnley win at Old Trafford since 1962

by

MAN UNITED 2, BURNLEY 2

Misfiring Manchester United lost further ground in the Premier League title race after being held at home by Burnley.

But it would have been worse but for super-sub Jesse Lingard who scored twice as the Reds snatched a point having been 2-0 down at half time.

Lingard struck his third brace of the campaign, the equaliser netted in stoppage time as United staved off a first home Boxing Day defeat in 39 years.

And it left the Clarets crestfallen as they came agonisingly close to winning at Old Trafford for the first time since 1962.

Ten-man Leicester City deal another blow to Manchester United’s title hopes with injury time equaliser

by

LEICESTER CITY 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 2

Manchester United conceded another injury time goal which cost them dearly in the space of days when Harry Maguire scored a 93rd minute equaliser at the King Power Stadium for ten-man Leicester City.

Daniel Amarty had lasted just 16 minutes after coming on as a second half sub for the Foxes before being sent off for a second booking leaving a mountain to climb for the home side.

The Reds wasted chance after chance to put the Foxes away and thought that a Juan Mata double had snatched the points after Jamie Vardy had opened the scoring early on for Claude Puel’s side.

The draw left Manchester City, who won 4-0 earlier at the Etihad against Bournemouth, an unprecedented 13 points ahead by Christmas with only 19 games to go until the end of the season – a record in top flight history.