Manchester United players lack characters

Jose Mourinho has once again accused his players of not showing "enough heart" after they limped to a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace.

At the wake of what Mourinho described as a key run of eight league matches between now and the end of 2018, United produced an insipid performance against opponents who are praying to stay out of the relegation zone.

"You must play with brain and also with heart and I think not enough heart," he said.

"We didn't have that intensity that in my opinion is basically related with your brain, with your heart. There are games that are special games and not just one more, and this was a special game.

"It was the first of eight Premier League games until the end of December and a game we needed to win, and it was not enough from the heart."

Out of nine games at Old Trafford this season, United have won just three.

Romelu Lukaku’s attempt was ruled out for offside and another kept out by the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, who also produced another smart saves to deny Jesse Lingard. 

Crystal Palace, who are without a win in their previous seven league games and just a point above the bottom three, created many chances as they tried to secure their first league win at Old Trafford since 1989.

Patrick van Aanholt went close on two occasions, Andros Townsend blazed wide and a weak header by Cheikhou Kouyate was also disallowed for offside.

Where is ManchesterUnited's season heading?

Manchester United fans have endured some disappointments this season, and this was another day to forget for the club and his fans.

On the eve of the match, Jose Mourinho claimed United could break into the Premier League's top four by the end of December.

However, they still might, but they will have to put in a lot better than they did in this laboured performance, which left them 14 points adrift of league leaders and arch rival, Manchester City after just 13 games.

Paul Pogba and Lukaku made their return to the side, yet World Cup winner Paul Pogba failed to impress and didn’t finish the game. Lukaku, on the other hand, is still searching for his first league goal since 15 September as United were shy in front of goal at home for the fourth time this season.

Lingard was United's most threatening player for the game and his first-time shot from a very close range brought out the best save from Hennessey.

Anthony Martial didn’t look like making it six goals in six Premier League matches as United dropped two more points ahead of a congested eight-match December, which includes matches against Arsenal (home) and Liverpool (away).

They have a quick opportunity to get over this disappointing performance when they host Young Boys on Tuesday in the Champions League. 

But, Mourinho added: "If we play with the same philosophy against Young boys then we won't win."