Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has acknowledged that the club should have been on the winning side of Sunday’s goalless Premier League draw against Newcastle United.
The Red Devils went into the game on a three-match winning streak and had a superb chance to beat the Magpies, who were missing key players such as Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin.
However, United were once again disappointing with their finishing. They managed 15 shots against Eddie Howe’s side at Old Trafford, but just two of those were on target.
While the Magpies were not clinical either, United will feel they should have won the game. They squandered two golden scoring chances in the final minutes of the encounter.
Marcus Rashford rounded the goalkeeper Nick Pope in the 88th minute to put the ball on the plate for Fred to score. With an open goal at sight, the Brazilian slashed his effort wide.
In the dying seconds, Rashford was guilty of missing an opportunity of his own. Casemiro delivered a peach of a cross. The striker had a free header which went wide of the far post.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag accepted that the duo should have scored against the Magpies.
He told Manutd.com: “We missed two huge chances – we could, and should, have scored the winning goal. It was a good run by Rashy for Fred and the last one was a good cross by Casemiro and Rashy had to score.”
United’s forward play has been frustrating over the past two outings. They were culpable of missing several clear-cut chances against Omonia but scrapped through with a 1-0 win.
Rashford should have grabbed a last-gasp winner yesterday, but it was not meant to be. The club have no time to ponder over the result with two difficult matches coming up.
They are scheduled to host Tottenham Hotspur at home on Wednesday before facing Chelsea on the road three days later. It will be a defining phase in the club’s top-four pursuit.
United have dropped three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea after yesterday’s stalemate.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
