Manchester United ended a turbulent week with a frustrating 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday that does little to ease the pressure on beleaguered manager Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils travelled to the home of their bitter rivals desperate to find a spark after just two wins in nine games in all competitions this season.
The sense of a growing crisis at the club was exacerbated in midweek by an outburst from defender Lisandro Martinez, who took aim at the United hierarchy after a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The Argentina centre-back said Carrick, in his first full season in charge at Old Trafford, had been left with an under-strength squad after an underwhelming summer transfer window.
The United boss insisted on Friday United had “moved on” from the incident and Martinez was named in the starting line-up at Elland Road.
Both teams were fully committed in a feisty start to the match in Leeds but there was little goalmouth action.
The first effort on target came in the 26th minute when United goalkeeper Senne Lammens clawed away a Nico Elvedi header destined for the top corner after bouncing up off the turf.
Bryan Mbeumo, playing as United’s target man, headed wastefully wide a minute later after a fine cross from Youri Tielemans and then shot tamely at Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford.
But he finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when Tielemans again delivered a low ball from the right which Mbeumo guided into the bottom corner for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.
Martinez went off at half-time as Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui was brought into the action.
Leeds started strongly after the break and were level in the 51st minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin controlled the ball on his chest and finished at full stretch after Tarik Muharemovic got his head to the ball following a corner.
The home team were now well on top, largely limiting Carrick’s team to counter-attacks.
The United boss made attacking substitutions in the search for a winner, bringing on Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha, but neither team could force a winner.
The point left 20-time English champions United in 13th place in the table with just one win in seven games while Leeds are seventh.
Brighton stunner
Elsewhere on Sunday, Brighton leapfrogged Arsenal into second place, at least temporarily, after humbling Crystal Palace 5-0, including a sensational Diego Gomez effort from the halfway line.
Fabian Hurzeler’s team were three goals up inside 10 minutes after an own goal from Palace defender Jaydee Canvot, Gomez’s spectacular effort, and a strike from Yasin Ayari.
Further goals from Charalampos Kostoulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood in the second half deepened Palace’s pain.
The Gunners, six points behind Manchester City, are in action at Nottingham Forest in the late-afternoon kick-off.
Arsenal need a win to rein in City, who have won all seven of their league games this season.
Enzo Maresca’s men have put together their impressive run despite off-field distractions after the club was charged with multiple breaches of Premier League financial rules.
Bournemouth beat 10-man Sunderland 2-0 with goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson for their first league win of the season.
Source: Khaleej Times