
It may not be appreciated by the disillusioned masses, but there are at least two very good reasons to keep an eye on Manchester United and Chelsea this season. The goalkeepers.

David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois were quite exceptional. Faultless, one might say, and not just because they didn’t have much to do. This was really quite a good game, despite those twin zeros. Manchester United were livelier than they have been for some time and Chelsea carved out some extremely good chances, although not many of them, due to the absence of a specialist goalscorer.

Even so, the reason the match stayed goalless, beyond some wasteful finishing, was De Gea and Courtois. Both made outstanding saves and, when Courtois could not, the woodwork came to Chelsea’s rescue. It was a useful point for the visitors, more so than Manchester United, but it is not a result that should affect Louis van Gaal’s job prospects dramatically. This is United’s longest run without a win since 1990 and their sixth 0-0 draw at Old Trafford this season, and that is not a good look on any manager.

Nemanja Matic wasted the best chance of the match by firing the ball over David de Gea's goal when he had plenty of time and space

The Serbia international reacts by putting his hand on his protective mask after seeing his effort sail over the woodwork at Old Trafford

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera came close to scoring from close range however Thibaut Courtois dived down to his left

Herrera hides his face in disappointment after squandering a golden opportunity for Manchester United during the second half

Belgium international Courtois was already diving the right way when he kept out Herrera's effort with minimal fuss

MATCH FACTS, STATS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM OLD TRAFFORD MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 8.5; Young 7, Smalling 6, Blind 5.5 (Jones 81), Darmian 6 (Borthwick-Jackson 70, 6.5); Schneiderlin 7, Schweinsteiger 6.5; Mata 6 (Depay 77, 5), Herrera 7, Martial 7.5; Rooney 6 Booked: Smalling, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Rooney Subs not used: Romero, Carrick, Fellaini, Pereira CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 8; Ivanovic 5, Zouma 6.5, Terry 6.5, Azpilicueta 6; Mikel 6, Matic 5; Willian 5.5 (Ramires 70, 6), Oscar 6 (Loftus-Cheek 93), Pedro 6.5; Hazard 7.5 Booked: Mikel, Hazard Subs not used: Begovic, Baba, Traore, Djilobodji, Kenedy Referee: Martin Atkinson 7 Attendance: 75,275 Ratings by Chris Wheeler Wayne Rooney's pitch map shows his touches in the attacking third — click here for more of our brilliant Match Zone Advertisement

Yet Ed Woodward, the Manchester United chief executive, does not want to sack Van Gaal – not least because it would reflect poorly on him – and this game did not give him great reason to act.

Swansea and Sheffield United at home, and Newcastle away, are up next, all winnable matches, and Woodward will be hoping Van Gaal’s luck changes naturally. The league table continues to make unpleasant viewing though; United are in sixth place, nine points off leaders Arsenal, and could be 11 points shy if Leicester beat Manchester City. Not that a Manchester City win would be hugely preferable – that would leave United trailing their annoying neighbours by eight points.

Of course, Chelsea would swap places in a heartbeat. They are 15 points off the Champions League spots and three points off relegation. When Chelsea’s fans mocked Manchester United’s Champions League exit with a chant of ‘Thursday night, Channel 5’ – an insult that would have hurt BT just as much, having had the rights to Europa League football since the start of the season – they were crushed instantly with a riposte of ‘Going down, going down’. It rather summed up the reduced status of this fixture. When the list came out it would have been seen as a potential title decider, after all.

Delightfully, though, it was not the damp squib many expected. The scoreline may have been predictable but the football was not. It didn’t look like sixth versus 16th – the position of both teams at kick-off – and United in particular were vastly improved. Not dull, not dour, not cagey – for the first hour at least they went at it hammer and tongs, on the front foot like the good old days.

Manchester United could have been awarded a penalty when Willian raised his hand to control the ball inside the penalty area

The attacking midfielder was not penalised despite touching the ball with his hand despite not being pressurised by a United player

Wayne Rooney could have been sent off for a late lunge on Oscar, however referee Martin Atkinson deemed the foul to be a yellow

SUPER STAT FROM OLD TRAFFORD Manchester United have gone eight games without victory in all competitions - their last win was against Watford on November 21. This is their longest winless run since January 1990. Advertisement

Considering the torpor that had preceded this, even in home games, it was hard to tell whether United’s players had sniffed the wind and decided to ignore Van Gaal’s conservative instincts, or whether a retro blast of high tempo attacking football was the manager’s last attempt to keep his job. Either way, it worked. United went in at half-time goalless, but not to the familiar derision. This was their best 0-0 of the season – an ambitious 0-0, at least until late in the game when the rigours of holiday football seemed to take their toll.

United started early, the game just three minutes old when Rooney fed the ball back to Juan Mata, whose shot was smacked against the bar. It seemed to set the standard – seven minutes later, Rooney laid the ball to Morgan Schneiderlin, from an Ander Herrera cross, and the Frenchman’s shot flew narrowly wide. Anthony Martial, deployed on the left, came close after 18 minutes, cutting inside and striking a shot that defeated Courtois but not the near post – and Rooney had an ambitious effort from a full 30 yards out athletically tipped over by Courtois approaching the half hour.

His best was yet to come, however. In the 56th minute, Herrera was in an excellent position to convert a Martial cross from close range. The Belgian scrambled across and somehow met the ball, saving and clearing at the same time. Late on, substitute Cameron Borthwick-Jackson found Rooney at the far post, but his shot was wild. It was a pity. He had played well until that point, linking excellently and working hard, as usual. That does not mean Manchester United would not benefit from a 25-goal striker, though. Rooney is a different player to five years ago.

Rooney failed to test Courtois earlier on in the game when it looked like the United captain was going to put his side in the lead

Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea stretches out his hands to deny fellow countryman Cesar Azpilicueta during the 0-0 draw

De Gea also saved from fellow countryman Pedro before getting back on to his feet to keep out Azpilicueta

Manchester United captain Rooney and Kurt Zouma compete for the ball as they do battle during an aerial challenge

Chelsea attacking midfielder Willian (left) and Morgan Schneiderlin (right) stretch as they compete for the ball during a challenge

EA SPORTS DISTANCE STATS Mins KM Miles Manchester United 113.5 70.5 Ander Herrera 90 12.0 7.5 Bastian Schweinsteiger 90 11.9 7.4 Morgan Schneiderlin 90 11.8 7.4 Chelsea 109.4 68.0 Nemanja Matic 90 11.6 7.2 Eden Hazard 90 11.5 7.1 Oscar 90 11.2 7.0

Chelsea were short of a striker, too, although their problems are temporary. Diego Costa – who scored two goals in a game for the first time since January, then picked up the yellow card that triggered a suspension to ensure he, and his club, could not capitalise on it – was absent and Loic Remy stayed on the bench, meaning forward duties were shared between Eden Hazard, Oscar and Pedro.

Hazard was the most central figure and took the requisite kicking. They were queuing up for him – Chris Smalling, then Herrera, then Daley Blind. Referee Martin Atkinson could definitely have afforded more protection. Rooney was fortunate too, in the second half, when a quite dreadful challenge on Oscar only drew a yellow card. He was high, late and seemed to ignore the ball for the man. It could easily have been a straight red card.

And, earlier, a penalty to United, too. Willian, in lots of space, miscontrolled the ball and brought it to order only with what appeared the deliberate use of his left arm. Atkinson was already anticipating the clearance and was looking upfield. Where the linesman was looking, God knows.

Yet, while Chelsea rode their luck, they also produced several quite excellent chances that could have won the game with better finishing and less efficient goalkeeping.

In the fifth minute, John Terry met a corner from the right and forced a brilliant save from De Gea and, at the start of the second half he was needed again. Hazard set Pedro clear and he jinked into the penalty area only for De Gea to block his shot. Cesar Azpilicueta was first to the rebound and De Gea saved again. He didn’t have a whole lot to do, but what he did was impressive. Fortunately, on the one occasion he could have been in trouble, Chelsea blew the chance. Nemanja Matic broke through alone after a sweet pass from Pedro but, a full stride ahead of the pursuing pack, he snatched at his finish and ballooned it over the bar. It’s fair to say he’s a better screen than a shot.

Bastian Schweinsteiger goes down under a challenge by Matic as fellow midfielder John Obi Mikel keeps a close eye on the ball

Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata was playing against his former side, he left rivals Chelsea in January 2014

Herrera (left), Matteo Darmian (centre) and Schneiderlin (right) line up a defensive wall as Chelsea prepare to take a free-kick

The Spanish midfielder knew he should have done better when he was allowed to test Chelsea's No 1 from close range

De Gea puts his right hand in the air to deny Chelsea skipper John Terry the chance of opening the scoring against his side

Rooney (centre) exchanges words with former international team-mate Terry (right) during the contest at Old Trafford

Under-fire Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal waves to the Old Trafford faithful ahead of the Premier League clash against Chelsea

Mata touches hands with Van Gaal after the Spanish playmaker is replaced by team-mate Memphis Depay in the 77th minute

Van Gaal closely watches proceedings alongside his assistants Ryan Giggs (right) and Albert Stuivenberg (left)

Van Gaal's opposite number and long-time rival Guus Hiddink watches on as his Chelsea laboured to a goalless draw with United

Former team-mates Eden Hazard, who led Chelsea's forward line, and Mata embrace as they make their way off the pitch at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands to watch his former side in action at Old Trafford

Red Devils chief executive Ed Woodward, his predecessor David Gill and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton were all watching

A supporter exchanges words with Van Gaal following the final whistle at Old Trafford, United are without a win in their last eight games