MANCHESTER UNITED are enduring their worst start to a top-flight season since 1988/89 – setting them on course for ELEVENTH place.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa was the second time in eight days the Red Devils have been held by a newly-promoted side.
Pressure is growing on United boss SolskjaerCredit: PA:Press Association
Sir Alex Ferguson also came close to being let go before his impeccable turnaroundCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
That dropped them to ninth place in the Premier League but it could be about to get even worse if the history books are anything to go by.
The last time United had only 18 points after their opening 14 games was in 1988.
If the current side replicate Sir Alex Ferguson’s form, they too risk dropping to the 11th place the Scot ended up in.
Some 31 years ago, the Red Devils sat ninth with the threat of history now repeating itself given the similarities between the two teams.
That season saw United side draw nine times by the end of November despite finishing second the previous year.
Mark Hughes and Brian McClair then inspired the side to a run of seven wins in ten, lifting them to third in the First Division table.
However, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer well knows, a downturn snuck up on the team and they plummeted down the table with a desperate run in the spring – losing seven of their last 11 matches.
That saw United finish below the likes of Norwich, Derby, Coventry and Millwall.
Sheffield United and Wolves are among the teams ahead of Solskjaer’s men this time around.
A resounding victory at Norwich in late October gave hope that, on the return of Anthony Martial, the Red Devils would be pushing back up the table.
And yet they followed that up with a loss to Bournemouth before conceding seven goals against Brighton, the Blades and Aston Villa – picking up just five points along the way.
Things don’t get any easier for Solskjaer in the coming weeks with Jose Mourinho back at Old Trafford with Tottenham on Wednesday.
Manchester City then welcome United to Eastlands for a derby ahead of Premier League games with sides scrapping near the bottom of the table; Everton, Watford and Newcastle.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks about poor run of form after Man United draw 2-2 at home to Aston Villa
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
