The Manchester United stat that proves Ralf Rangnick deserves more praise than he gets

Manchester United failed to tighten their grip on a top-four berth after being held to a goalless draw by Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds, who were hammered 4-1 by the Hornets at Vicarage Road back in November in their final game under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, created a plethora of opportunities but failed to take their chances when they came their way. If anything, it had an identical feeling to the recent clashes with Middlesbrough, Burnley and Southampton.

United, who dominated from pretty much the first whistle, were guilty of spurning a whole host of opportunities, especially in the first half. Alex Telles, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo were amongst those to go closest but they fluffed their lines.

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Therefore, it was unsurprising when interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who will sample the experience of a Manchester derby for the first time on Sunday afternoon, rued his side's finishing.

"We had enough chances," Rangnick said. "In the first half, we had four clear opportunities that normally are enough to score at least one or two goals and second half was similar.

"In the end it's about efficiency, being clinical in front of goal, and this is not for the first time, unfortunately. Apart from that, we were in full control of the game, we dominated the game."

Dominated they did. United created a wealth of opportunities and, on another day, would have won the game comfortably.

However, just as they did in recent home games against both Middlesbrough and Southampton, they failed to make that dominance count. But is Rangnick to blame for the chances United continue to waste?

No is the answer. That is