
Current Football League Tables
ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images
Manchester United can now finish no higher than sixth in the Premier League after slipping to a 15th draw of the season thanks to a 0-0 stalemate against Southampton at St. Mary's Stadium on Wednesday.
United goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved a penalty from Saints striker Manolo Gabbiadini to keep the match goalless. The point moved Southampton clear of West Bromwich Albion in eighth place.
Recap
It was all about Romero from the start as he denied Gabbiadini from the spot after centre-back Eric Bailly had clumsily given away the penalty. Sky Sports Statto relayed a snap of the save:
Sky Sports Statto @SkySportsStattoManolo Gabbiadini is the 3rd Southampton player to fail from a PL penalty in 16-17 after Tadic & Long #PL https://t.co/J9gFkawy6z
2017-5-17 18:55:59The smart stop was just the start of Romero's busy evening. The Argentinian stopper was in fine form to thwart several Saints attacks, as United sat deep and invited pressure.
Romero's active display was best summed up by this number from Squawka Football on the hour:
Squawka Football @Squawka60th minute mark and Sergio Romero has made a whopping six saves vs. Southampton. Putting on a show for the cameras. 🎥 https://t.co/ziiC2k8hdn
2017-5-17 20:04:16One reason the visitors couldn't find an answer was their blunt attacking play. It didn't help when some forwards disappointed on the night.
In particular, Anthony Martial came in for criticism from Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News:
Samuel Luckhurst @samuelluckhurstMartial is failing his audition here. Some players look like they know they won't be starting next week. #mufc
2017-5-17 20:01:26As much as the France international may have struggled, he did muster United's best chance on 72 minutes, when the former AS Monaco star slammed a low drive off the post.
By contrast, one United fringe player who did catch the eye was young full-back Axel Tuanzebe. The 19-year-old has tremendous potential, and BBC Sport's Simon Stone called for him to be given more chances:
Simon Stone @sistoney67Another chance for Tuanzebe. That lad has a future. Hope he gets an opening next season.
2017-5-17 17:51:35Tuanzebe's composed display was enough to get United a share of the points. They barely merited it but had Romero to thank for the clean sheet.
One more stalemate has condemned the Red Devils to an unwanted piece of club history in England's top flight, per WhoScored.com:
WhoScored.com @WhoScoredManchester United: Have now set a club record for the lowest amount of wins in a single PL season, regardless of whether they beat Palace
2017-5-17 20:39:59With his side now six points behind fifth-placed Arsenal, BBC 5 live Sport summed up what an uneventful final day of the league season United manager Jose Mourinho can expect on Sunday:
BBC 5 live Sport @5liveSport#SaintsFC 0-0 #MUFC A #PL record 15th draw of the season for United. Here are the final day permutations for José Mourinho 🤔 https://t.co/6kkuoJVCMJ
2017-5-17 20:45:22Of course, Mourinho and many United supporters likely won't care how the final table looks if they beat Ajax in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday. A win in Stockholm would put United in next season's UEFA Champions League.
It would also guarantee a second trophy to go along with the EFL Cup claimed at Southampton's expense earlier this season.
Whether those prizes truly make up for the disappointment of a tame league campaign is debatable, especially after Mourinho spent big on Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and world-record transfer Paul Pogba last summer.