Despite falling 10 points behind their city rivals, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u00a0insists his side are still in the title race and said Manchester United were not going to let their City rivals \u201crun away\u201d with the Premier League title even though his team had produced a result that pointed to exactly that outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying. We are not giving it away early,\u201d the United manager protested.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0controversy.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had enough chances to make it three points,\u201d Allardyce lamented, and it was no exaggeration.<\/p>\n
United were quick to dominate possession, playing most of the game in West Brom\u2019s half but also produced \u2013 in the first 45 \u2013 an utterly adismal performance that prompted one to question whether they really have the belief to challenge for the title.<\/p>\n
The scenario was set when a furious Solskjaer came to the touchline and shouting angrily at his players, telling Scott McTominay and Fred to \u201csort it out\u201d and demanding more from Bruno Fernandes. It was that bad.<\/p>\n
The bitter pill for Ole and his men to swallow is that they are now just one win in five league matches \u2013 the 9-0 demolition of Southampton \u2013 as they have taken just six points from a possible 15.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer pointed out that United play the champions-elect soon but can they really do any damage? Seriously?<\/p>\n
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