Manchester United drew another blank on Wednesday night in what is becoming an all-too-familiar tale of wastefulness for Jose Mourinho and his team.

Despite 16 shots at goal, United failed to find the net against Hull City and were forced to settle for their third consecutive Premier League draw, losing further ground in the top four race.

Astonishingly, they have fired in 391 shots at goal in their 23 league matches so far this season and scored from just 33 of them - a shockingly poor conversion rate of just 8.44 per cent.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney look dejected at the final whistle as Manchester United fail to take their chances and are held 0-0 by Hull City at Old Trafford

It was another night of frustration for Manchester United and their manager, Jose Mourinho

The two dropped points meant United lost further ground in the race for the top four

85 - Despite attempting 85 shots at home vs the three promoted sides this season, Man Utd have mustered just two goals. Bluster. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 1, 2017

Take the three matches against the newly-promoted clubs - Burnley, Middlesbrough and Hull. Mourinho's men generated a grand total of 85 shots, but scored just two goals from them.

In late October, Mourinho's men had 38 shots at goal but were held to a goalless draw by Burnley. Against Middlesbrough in December, they made 32 chances, but needed two late goals to snatch victory.

Away from home, it has sometimes been a similar story - for example, they made 29 chances in their August visit to Hull's KCOM Stadium, yet didn't score until stoppage time.

Given United's expensively-assembled attacking talent, their profligacy in front of goal is astonishing and the principal cause as to why they are not challenging for the title.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rues another missed chance as United are frustrated by Hull

Juan Mata makes a point to team-mate Ander Herrera at the final whistle

Wayne Rooney and Paul Pogba look dejected as Hull came away from Old Trafford with a draw

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Despite having the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Rashford and others in their ranks, far too many chances go begging.

Tellingly, the match against Hull was their ninth draw of the season and it is these dropped points that mean United may have to settle for another season of Europa League football.

Only Hull and Southampton rank worse than United for chance conversion, and when it comes to so-called 'big chances' - the real clear-cut scoring opportunities - United's figure of 29.3 per cent is the worst by far.

On Wednesday night, a number of these golden chances went begging. Paul Pogba was denied by Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic in a one-on-one opportunity before half-time, and the stopper went on to make vital saves from Pogba, Juan Mata and Marcos Rojo after the break.

'We don't score, we don't win,' was Mourinho's blunt assessment of a situation he has seen far too often for his liking this season. 'I have a feeling of deja-vu and deja-vu a lot of times during the season.'

MANCHESTER UNITED CHANCE CONVERSION IN PL 2016-17 Date Opponent Total shots Goals Shot conversion rate Aug-14 Bournemouth 11 3 27.27 Aug-19 Southampton 12 2 16.67 Aug-27 Hull City 29 1 3.45 Sep-10 Manchester City 14 1 7.14 Sep-18 Watford 15 1 6.67 Sep-24 Leicester City 16 4 25 Oct-02 Stoke City 24 1 4.17 Oct-17 Liverpool 7 0 0 Oct-23 Chelsea 16 0 0 Oct-29 Burnley 38 0 0 Nov-06 Swansea City 9 3 33.33 Nov-19 Arsenal 12 1 8.33 Nov-27 West Ham 17 1 5.88 Dec-04 Everton 10 1 10 Dec-11 Tottenham 14 1 7.14 Dec-14 Crystal Palace 16 2 12.5 Dec-17 West Bromwich 10 2 20 Dec-26 Sunderland 26 3 11.54 Dec-31 Middlesbrough 32 2 6.25 Jan-02 West Ham 13 2 15.38 Jan-15 Liverpool 9 1 11.11 Jan-21 Stoke City 25 1 4 Feb-01 Hull City 16 0 0 TOTAL 391 33 8.44 Source: Opta

Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic denies United's Juan Mata at point-blank range

Jakupovic made a string of crucial saves as Hull came to Old Trafford and frustrated United

United are 14 points adrift of leaders Chelsea and four points off the Champions League places. If they'd taken, say, a dozen more of their chances this season, that picture would be very different indeed.

Mourinho will demand a reaction, and with winnable games at struggling Leicester City on Sunday and at home to Watford next week, he should see it. Mind you, we'd have formed the same opinion about Hull.



