Manchester United lost another lead late on as they drew 1-1 with Burnley at Old Trafford.
In a chaotic final 20 minutes, both sides looked exhausted and an error-strewn period commenced where either team could have taken the three points.
A superb afternoon from Andre Onana was spoiled when he needlessly gave away a penalty but United will have felt hard done by when no penalty was given down at the Stretford End for a foul on Alejandro Garnacho for a handball offense.
Nonetheless, failure once again to hold on to a lead means that Newcastle find themselves one point behind the Red Devils with just four games left to play.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Erik ten Hag once again bemoaned his side’s lack of ability to finish teams off when in a winning position.
The Dutchman said that his side had a “strong start to the game. Loads of chances then we lost in control in the second part of the first half. Burnley came back in the game and had some chances. The second half was all ours, and we were in a winning position, and we gave the game away at the end”.
When asked on how he felt after his team once again threw away vital points, he responded, “very frustrated, it shouldn’t happen. You put yourself in difficult positions. Over many phases of the game, we did very good, so at the end, we have to take the three points and the clean sheet. We gave it away again at the end”.
“We put ourselves in a winning position by playing some good football – creating loads of chances and then to give it away in the end in the final minutes, it’s so unnecessary”.
Once more, the manager and the fans will have very different understandings of what has gone on in front of them. While he is correct to bemoan his side’s inability to finish teams off, he is incredibly naive to think that fans buy that the team is playing well.
The Clarets created numerous chances, and even though Andre Onana was the villain at the end when giving away a penalty, if it had not been for at least three great interventions, the Red Devils could well have lost the match.
The former Ajax coach continued another common theme of his recent post-match press interviews when he criticized the referee’s decisions and lamented his side’s on-field fortune.
“We are not lucky with the refereeing in recent weeks. We’ve conceded so many penalties, this one is justified but other ones. If you make [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka in the final a penalty then what is this. Where is the consistency?”
Manchester United now have an extended break of nine days before they are next in action with a tough looking trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Monday the 6th of May.
However, after yet another poor performance and result, the noose is tightening ever more around the neck of the beleaguered Dutchman.
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