Despite falling 10 points behind their city rivals, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists his side are still in the title race and said Manchester United were not going to let their City rivals “run away” with the Premier League title even though his team had produced a result that pointed to exactly that outcome.
“We are trying. We are not giving it away early,” the United manager protested.
Unfortunately for the Norwegian and United hopefuls, a dismal draw away to West Bromwich Albion was hardly the response required by a team claiming they have the appetite to hunt down City who’s clearly gathering momentum by the game and who can go 10 points clear at the top by winning their game in hand away to Everton on Wednesday.
Ole may well be in denial but the sobering truth is that any lingering hope United had of being serious challengers all but went poof on a black day in the Black Country with freezing rain, another David De Gea mistake, and yet more VAR controversy.
The truth for both sides was that a draw would have been insufficient for either side with West Brom now 12 points adrift of safety with just 14 games to go, despite this being undoubtedly their best performance since Sam Allardyce took over.
Had new striker Mbaye Diagne scored the hat-trick that was his to claim, this could have been a resounding victory, rather than just his first goal for West Brom since his loan move from Galatasaray as the Senegalese striker teasingly bullied Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire.
“We had enough chances to make it three points,” Allardyce lamented, and it was no exaggeration.
United were quick to dominate possession, playing most of the game in West Brom’s half but also produced – in the first 45 – an utterly adismal performance that prompted one to question whether they really have the belief to challenge for the title.
The scenario was set when a furious Solskjaer came to the touchline and shouting angrily at his players, telling Scott McTominay and Fred to “sort it out” and demanding more from Bruno Fernandes. It was that bad.
The bitter pill for Ole and his men to swallow is that they are now just one win in five league matches – the 9-0 demolition of Southampton – as they have taken just six points from a possible 15.
Although still sitting second, ahead of Leicester City on goal difference, this was the kind of game they have to win if they are to pose a serious challenge to City.
Solskjaer pointed out that United play the champions-elect soon but can they really do any damage? Seriously?