Tottenham 0-0 Manchester United: Reds lacklustre in uneventful game

Manchester United looked lacking in ideas and creativity as they drew a dull game with Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 at White Hart Lane.

With both teams having played two days ago, there was a predictable lack of urgency and creativity about the teams, but United felt it worse having left the team unchanged from their victory against Newcastle two days ago.

The first half was not too dull an affair, with both sides having decent chances - Hugo Lloris producing a superb save at one point to keep United in the game, with Spurs seeing a penalty shout turned down after the excellent Harry Kane was tripped by Paddy McNair.

Yet as the second half began, United found chances harder to come by. Juan Mata did get into position for a cutback but wildly sliced his effort over the bar, while Spurs were also guilty of profligacy at the other end.

With no Adnan Januzaj, Ander Herrera or Angel di Maria on the bench, United had few options to change the game, and it was Spurs who enjoyed most of the late pressure, before the referee finally put viewers out of their misery with the full-time whistle.

Unlike before, it's probably a touch harsh to place too much blame on Van Gaal for this. While he named an unchanged side, injuries meant that there was little scope to do otherwise, although even then the second half was a worryingly meek affair. Hopefully whatever murderous practices are going on at Carrington can soon be curtailed, because not for the first time, a lack of fitness led to a pretty rubbish performance. If nothing else, at least we can stop deluding ourselves about a title race, though. Every cloud...