The one ray of light from Manchester United’s goalless draw with Newcastle was the fact the team were able to keep a clean sheet.
This was United’s fifth clean sheet of the season in all competitions and third in the Premier League.
Lisandro Martinez has featured as a starter in every single game this season and he was excellent again at the weekend.
BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks named Martinez in his ‘team of the week’ in response to his performance.
Lisandro Martinez in BBC team of the week
Martinez was the one Manchester United player selected in the XI, and it is always good to see the Argentina international picking up praise.
Commending the Red Devils defender, Crooks noted how Erik ten Hag is already ‘relying’ on him and says he can see that the new signing is ‘actively enjoying’ the competitiveness of the Premier League.
He added: “This was a game United might have lost under Ralf Rangnick but not any longer it would appear.”
Martinez played all 90 minutes of the goalless draw, making two interceptions and winning two of two aerial duels.
The centre-back will have another test this week when he takes on Harry Kane for the first time as Tottenham visit Old Trafford, before United visit Chelsea at the weekend.
From a defensive point of view, United are in form, with two consecutive clean sheets now, ideal preparation ahead of a couple of tough fixtures.
While nice to see Martinez picking up praise, the noise from the media will certainly be louder if he has a bad game or two this week.
At some stage United might want to rest Martinez to give him a breather, perhaps against Sheriff Tiraspol in a fortnight’s time. Until then, the team cannot do without him.
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