Manchester United vs Chelsea match report: Louis van Gaal sees improved performance at Old Trafford - but not enough to win

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0

(2015 Getty Images)

So Louis van Gaal limps on, but it sums up the current state of Manchester United that a goalless draw at Old Trafford against a team hovering three points above the relegation zone is regarded as a sign of progress.

At least the four-game losing streak came to an end against a Chelsea team on course to deliver the worst defence of a title in the Premier League era, but every silver lining has a cloud and this stalemate extended United’s winless run to eight games in all competitions.

Eight games without a victory and the sixth time this season that United have failed to score in front of their own supporters – these really are bleak times for Van Gaal and his team and it is remarkable that the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, chose to pose for selfies with supporters in the directors’ box at the end of the game.

Having surrendered 2-0 at Stoke City on Boxing Day, United were more adventurous and cohesive against Chelsea and they should have won, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing referee Martin Atkinson reject two strong second-half penalty appeals.

But there were also narrow escapes, with goalkeeper David De Gea twice producing world-class saves to keep United on equal terms before Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic spurned a glorious late chance to win the game.

Still, the draw is likely to prove enough to keep Van Gaal on life support until the visit of Swansea City at the weekend, but even Woodward will struggle to keep faith with the Dutchman if the managerless Welsh club extend United’s search for a win.

Swansea provided the opposition for Van Gaal’s first game in charge of United, in August 2014, and they may well be his last if they return to Wales with three points as they did 16 months ago.

Having started this game level on points with Watford and behind Crystal Palace, it was clear that United were in need of a change of fortune against a Chelsea team still feeling the aftershocks of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal. But United’s ill luck reared its head within two minutes of the kick-off when Juan Mata was denied a well-worked opener by the Chelsea crossbar.

The Spaniard, who has flattered to deceive at Old Trafford since arriving from Stamford Bridge in January 2014, was unlucky to see his first-time shot from Wayne Rooney’s pass rattle against the bar, but those are the margins that are hurting United right now.

In response, and continuing the frenetic start, John Terry was denied only by a stunning De Gea save on five minutes when the Chelsea captain’s header from Willian’s corner was acrobatically tipped over the bar by the United goalkeeper.

The end-to-end action went on, with United dominating possession, and Morgan Schneiderlin sent a curling right-foot shot wide from 20 yards before the impressive Anthony Martial weaved between two Chelsea defenders and struck the inside of the post on 16 minutes.

Chelsea were unable to secure a foothold in the game, with United winning the midfield battle, but the home side lacked quality in the final third and the near misses continued.

Martial went close again and Mata’s poor delivery from the right flank frustrated Rooney on two occasions before the United captain, restored to the starting line-up and playing as though he had a point to prove, forced Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into action with a powerful right-foot strike from 30 yards.

But half-time arrived and United had, once again, failed to make a first-half breakthrough.

Not since September have United scored in the first half at Old Trafford and the anxiety that blunt edge creates invariably leads to a more cautious, nervy approach after the interval. That pattern continued, with the likes of Woodward, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Gill and Sir Bobby Charlton watching on, looking increasingly morose in the posh seats.

Chelsea contributed to the creeping tension in the second half, however.

With Guus Hiddink back in interim charge following Mourinho’s departure 11 days ago, the ship has been steadied, but Chelsea are in a mess nonetheless.

Last season’s swagger and confidence have evaporated and the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa – suspended for this game – have been playing as though their minds are elsewhere.

It was Manchester United versus Chelsea, the two most successful clubs of the Premier League era, but not since this fixture was about Graeme Hogg versus John Bumstead in the 1980s has it felt so irrelevant and mediocre.

Both teams went into the second half attempting to win, but clearly more concerned about the damage of defeat, and an early flurry, marked by a double De Gea save from Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta and a point-blank Courtois save from Ander Herrera, was followed by greater caution.

Matic’s miss on 62 minutes, after being set free by Pedro on a counter-attack, was a sign of the nerves afflicting both sets of players, but it was a shocker, with the Serb clear on goal before blazing high over the bar from 18 yards.

United huffed and puffed, with only Martial offering any kind of zest until he was shunted from left to right in order to accommodate substitute Memphis Depay midway through the second half.

But having been denied penalties when Willian handled and Azpilicueta fouled Mata, United were unable to provide a finishing touch to their possession and build-up play.

When Rooney fired a volley high and wide from Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross on 86 minutes – moments before Rooney was booked for a reckless foul on Oscar – it was a sign that United’s luck was not going to turn.

Van Gaal may believe, or even hope, that his fortune may be changing, having seen his team arrest their slump, but it would be foolish to think the Dutchman has weathered the storm.

One United supporter had turned up at Old Trafford with a banner which read – LVG: Leave, Vanish, Go – so the frustrations in the stands cannot be overlooked.

Another failure to win on Saturday and that supporter may get his wish.