Manchester United Just Can’t Score In The First Half At Old Trafford

Manchester United have looked far from comfortable playing at home this season. That’s kind of gone under the radar though because they’ve hardly covered themselves in glory away from Old Trafford too.

But with Manchester United fans obviously, and sometimes vocally, unhappy with at first the style of play under Louis Van Gaal and then the results, this nervous energy has now spread onto the Old Trafford pitch.

In fact, because of this apprehension, which has been plainly evident for several months, Manchester United have now failed to score in the last nine first halves at Old Trafford. This dates all the way back to Juan Mata’s penalty against Wolfsburg in September.

But even before then United had hardly been firing on all cylinders in front of their home fans. In their first home game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur United only went in front through a bundled Kyle Walker own goal.

This was then followed by a stalemate against a dogged, but still frail, Newcastle United, while United failed to score in the first half against Liverpool and only managed a goal in stoppage time against Dick Advocatt’s awful Sunderland.

Since then United’s inability to score early in games has been indicative of their lifeless, languid displays under Louis Van Gaal. Sure, there’s a rough and tumble sprightliness to the opening of most of their encounters, with the likes of Rooney, Martial, Herrera, Mata, and sometimes Depay often trying their damndest to create or score.

But then this usually evaporates after ten minutes or so, and then Manchester United return to their patient, sideways manner, waiting for a chink to present itself so that they can score.

With United having failed to score against Manchester City, Middlesbrough, CSKA Moscow, West Bromwich Albion, PSV Eindhoven, West Ham United, Norwich, Chelsea, and Swansea in the first half of their recent home fixtures, Saturday’s FA Cup match with Sheffield United presents their best opportunity yet to bring an end to this unwanted new trend.

Because after that they have two tricky away games at St James’ Park and Anfield. And if they come back to Old Trafford with anything less than four points then the apprehension will be even more rampant and contagious than ever.

[Images via Getty/Clive Brunskill & Getty/Dean Mouhtaropoulos