Plenty To Admire

Adam Marshall sees reason for optimism after Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Monday...

Football might be a results business, as we are constantly reminded, but it is ridiculous to take any scoreline in isolation.

Manchester United pushed Chelsea and would have been rewarded for a spirited first-half display but for the woodwork coming to Thibaut Courtois's rescue as efforts by Juan Mata and Anthony Martial fizzed past the big Belgian goalkeeper.

The champions seemed more than happy with a point, even if David De Gea had to make a few good stops and Nemanja Matic missed a sitter. Courtois made one fabulous save to keep out Ander Herrera’s close-range strike and Wayne Rooney could not divert Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s driven cross on target late on.

Yet there was plenty to admire on the evening, explaining the warm applause that greeted an eighth match without a win for the Reds. There was much more purpose and a desire to work the opposing keeper, which is what every supporter attending games at Old Trafford demands to see.

On this evidence, the poor spell of form could be coming to an end as we prepare to ring in the New Year. Swansea City themselves have had a decent festive period but, if this level of performance is maintained on Saturday, surely a first win since Watford on 21 November will be forthcoming.

The fans inside the ground backed their team. They always do. The reaction on social media and message boards may be rather different, as some will still struggle to acknowledge any positives. This is the modern world, where so much gets said and written that has little relevance to what is actually going on in a sport that increasingly resembles a soap opera.

Another 0-0, one predicted by many people beforehand, will be decried in some quarters. Negative statistics will be trotted out and it is impossible to argue against the fact that some make uncomfortable reading. But, equally, it should not be forgotten that this was a display that few matchgoing Reds are likely to find fault with.

Everybody appreciates Manchester United need to start winning football matches again and, hopefully, that opening game of 2016 will be the one that can kickstart a good run of form. Old Trafford will be packed again for the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United the following week. Those fans deserve to see their side get back to winning ways and, after this showing, there has to be every confidence the wait will not be prolonged much further.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com