Manchester United’s final home game of the season ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Fulham last night.
Fans were finally back at Old Trafford but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted to Sky Sports after the game that the performance wasn’t what they ‘wanted or deserved’.
Yesterday was far from the first time United have underperformed at home this season – it’s actually been something of a theme.
We’ve picked out five worrying statistics from United’s home form in 2020/21…
1) Just nine of United’s 19 Premier League matches this season have been won.
2) United have conceded more home goals (28) than they ever have in a Premier League campaign. It’s the most since the 38 they let in during the 1962-63 season, 58 years ago.
3) United have dropped 10 points from winning positions at home this season – also the highest home total for a Premier League season.
4) United dropped five points from three home games against the relegated sides. Sheffield United won 2-1 at Old Trafford and West Brom were only seen off 1-0 in November, thanks to a penalty.
5) West Ham and Leeds are the only members of the current top ten United have beaten at home this season. Arsenal, Leicester, Liverpool and Tottenham won at Old Trafford while Everton, Manchester City and Chelsea earned draws.
What are the reasons?
United lost their first two home games, against Crystal Palace and Tottenham, conceding nine goals in the process.
That could be put down to a lack of fitness owing to a curtailed pre-season, and accounts for almost a third of the home goals conceded all campaign.
But the issues run deeper than that. United still struggle to break teams down when the onus is on them to make the running.
There’s also an issue in terms of ruthlessness. United should have taken the game away from Fulham at 1-0, but basically stopped playing.
The ten home points dropped from winning positions show that’s been a constant issue. United are 12 behind City, so the impact of that sloppyness is clear to see.
Solskjaer has blamed everything from no fans, to the wrong colour banners, to trying too hard to impress supporters last night against Fulham.
Perhaps the lack of fans has had an impact, but that was the same situation for all sides and isn’t an excuse.
United have also benefitted from that away from home, often turning around games on the road having slipped behind. United are unbeaten away in the league this season, which is reson for encouragement, but the home performances have been an ongoing concern.
It’s something Solskjaer has to sort out next season when supporters are back.
Without vastly improved home form, United cannot expect to sustain a title challenge next time around.
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