![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2.45799740.jpg\")
Manchester United\u2019s alarming slump continued as another poor and predictable performance saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s side stumble to a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.<\/p>\nManchester United\u2019s alarming slump continued as another poor and predictable performance saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s side stumble to a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.<\/p>\n
After starting his reign with a club-record nine successive away wins in all competitions, Solskjaer\u2019s subsequent wait for a victory on the road stretched to a 10th match on ADO Den Haag\u2019s plastic pitch.<\/p>\n
March\u2019s jaw-dropping Champions League last-16 win at Paris St Germain remains the last time United triumphed away from Old Trafford \u2013 a stage and performance that was a far cry from Thursday\u2019s tepid display against AZ.<\/p>\n
The tired, artificial pitch in The Hague did not help Solskjaer\u2019s men in this Group L encounter, but their lack of attacking creativity and coherence was a bigger issue for the much-changed visitors.<\/p>\n
Teenager Mason Greenwood\u2019s blocked first-half effort was the best United could manage against AZ, who would have been ahead had their finishing matched their confidence.<\/p>\n
The Eredivisie side continued to threaten in the second period but were just unable to find a way past David De Gea as Solskjaer\u2019s team failed to build on their unconvincing opening win against Astana and provide a much-needed dollop of positivity.<\/p>\n
Substitute Jesse Lingard, who was dropped by England earlier in the day, left with a hamstring issue to compound matters late on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time to shine\u201d read the AZ fans\u2019 banner at the Cars Jeans Stadion, where Brandon Williams was handed his first senior start among United\u2019s eight changes.<\/p>\n
Daniel James was deployed up front at the start \u2013 an experiment that did not last long, with 18-year-old Greenwood moved there and seeing a close-range shot blocked by former Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar on the half-hour mark.<\/p>\n
Angel Gomes fluffed his lines and Diogo Dalot threatened with a cross in the only other noteworthy attacking moments United could muster in a desperate first half in which their shape was poor in and out of possession.<\/p>\n
AZ looked most likely to score throughout the opening period and found the net after just 11 minutes, only for Myron Boadu\u2019s attempt to be ruled out for offside.<\/p>\n
Oussama Idrissi, given an inexplicable amount of room on the flank, had the space and confidence to send in a shot from the edge of the box that De Gea smartly saved at his near post.<\/p>\n
Boadu could not get quite enough contact on a deep cross that had caught out United, who continued to stutter after half-time.<\/p>\n
Dani De Wit was just unable to convert a low cross from the right against a tame and increasingly retreating visiting side.<\/p>\n
Owen Wijndal forced De Gea into a save as Alkmaar upped the ante, with Idrissi fizzing across the face of goal and then testing the Spaniard.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer brought on Marcus Rashford and Lingard in a bid to snatch a late winner, which the latter went close to after the former fired a free-kick wildly over.<\/p>\n
Lingard limped off as United ended with 10 men and AZ deservedly took something from the game.<\/p>\n