By Nurudeen Obalola
Manchester United played out a scrappy 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in their English Premier League clash at Villa Park on Saturday, while Super Eagles full-back Ola Aina helped Nottingham Forest to a 1-1 draw at in-form Chelsea.
In a game of few chances and little fluidity, United had the better chances and more shots on target than the hosts, but they could not end a winless run that has now stretched to five matches in all competitions.
In those five matches, four have been drawn, while the other one was a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, leaving Erik ten Hag’s United job hanging in the balance.
Hosts Villa, coming off a huge UEFA Champions League win over Bayern Munich in mid-week, were expected to overrun the struggling United side, especially with Johnny Evans and Harry Maguire starting in central defence.
However, it was the 36-year-old Evans who emerged as man of the match, and Maguire was solid before limping off just before half-time.
Ten Hag would consider this a positive result, but Manchester United have just eight points in seven Premier League matches.
The last time the club had such numbers was in the 1989/1990 season, when they went on to finish 13th under Alex Ferguson – his lowest league finish in charge of the club, according to Opta statistics.
Ten Hag’s side have also scored only five league goals, their worst return in seven games in Premier League history.
United are 14th in the table, already 10 points off top spot, with Villa fifth, four points behind leaders Liverpool.
At Stamford Bridge, Aina played the full game while Taiwo Awoniyi was an unused substitute as Forest extended their unbeaten away run in the Premier League to six matches.
The in-form Chris Wood fired Forest in front four minutes after the break, but Chelsea, who are unbeaten since losing to Manchester City in August, equalised 11 minutes later through Noni Madueke.
Forest were reduced to 10 men when James Ward-Prowse was sent off for a second booking in the 78th minute, and there was 13 minutes of stoppage time, but the visitors held on to earn a point and ended Chelsea’s winning streak at five matches all competitions.
Chelsea are fourth, four points behind Liverpool, while Forest ninth, four points further adrift.
