Manchester United were left frustrated on Saturday afternoon when they were held to a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.

Wayne Rooney was wrongly ruled offside in the opening proceedings before Tim Krul produced a great save and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his effort crash off the post. Their performance stagnated in the second period but still had opportunities with Juan Mata, Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling all coming close but Newcastle held out for the point.

Rooney ruled offside 

Many had criticised Rooney for his rather lacklustre start to the 2015/16 campaign, but he looked hungry and ready to prove some doubters wrong with a fast start to proceedings. He should have given the hosts the lead after just six minutes, having been played clean through on-goal, with Tim Krul rushing off his line. Rooney proceeded to drill the ball into the net - however, he was flagged offside by the linesman, which at second viewing seemed to be wrong decision.

Krul produces great save 

Mata had a good opportunity in the 13th minute when he and Memphis Depay stood over the free-kick, but it was the Spaniard who struck the set-piece, which proved to be an easy save for Krul. The Dutchman produced a great save minutes later when he had to pull out a great one-handed stop to prevent Mata giving United the lead. 

United dominated for the early proceedings but were lucky to not find themselves behind after 24 minutes, Chancel Mbemba put a cross into the area which found the head of Mitrovic but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

United lacking creativity 

United came out for the second-half and looked a shadow of the side that played in the first 45 minutes and looked to lack creativity in the final third. Their first real opportunity of the second period came fifteen minutes before the full-time whistle, when Morgan Schneiderlin played an excellent ball to Rooney who was in acres of space, he put a cross into Mata who hit it on the volley but the effort went high and wide of the mark in the end.

Krul and Coloccini produce the goods 

Krul had been excellent throughout the match and produced another fantastic save with ten minutes to go, the ball pinballed around the box which eventually fell to substitute Hernandez but his effort was denied excellently with Krul blocking the shot with his left leg.

Fabricio Coloccini then produced a moment of excellence with four minutes to play when Antonio Valencia’s close-range effort looked destined for the back of the net but the Argentine did brilliantly to block the effort.

Stoppage-time madness

There was a minute of madness as the match entered stoppage time, when Smalling rose highest from the corner but his header hit the far post. From that chance Newcastle broke away and substitute Papiss Cisse fizzed a low cross into the area which looked to set upon by new signing Florian Thauvin who stretched valiantly but was unable to connect with the inviting ball forward, with Sergio Romero seemingly helpless in the United goal. 

After that fiasco, United continued to push for the winner as the minutes trickled away with Michael Carrick - on as a second-half alteration - hit a speculative effort from 25 yards which was just wide of the mark which proved to be the final opportunity of the game. It was a frustrating afternoon for Louis van Gaal's side but Steve McClaren will be happy with their performance as they proved stubborn to the United onslaught and could have easily nabbed the three points from underneath the Red Devils' noses. 

Player ratings - 

United: Romero 6, Darmian 6, Smalling 6, Blind 6, Shaw 7, Schneiderlin 6, Schweinsteiger 5, Mata 7, Januzaj 5, Depay 6, Rooney 6. Subs - Hernandez 5, Valencia 5, Carrick 6.

Newcastle: Krul 8, Mbemba 6, Taylor 6, Coloccini 8 MOTM, Haidara 6, Anita 5, Colback 5, Perez 6.5, Wijnaldum 6, Obertan 5, Mitrovic 6. Subs - Cisse 6, Thauvin 6, Tiote 5

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.