Manchester United have stumbled into an unwanted piece of club history, equalling a defensive milestone not seen for four decades after their latest Premier League outing.
A Historic Defensive Low
The Red Devils' 1-1 draw away at Leeds United on Sunday extended a concerning run of form at the back. The point, which moved Ruben Amorim's side up to fifth in the table, was marred by the concession of yet another goal on their travels.
Brenden Aaronson put the home side in front just after the hour mark at Elland Road, capitalising on a mistake from young defender Ayden Heaven. The lead lasted a mere three minutes before Matheus Cunha levelled for the visitors.
Crucially, that goal meant Manchester United have now conceded in 15 consecutive away games. This is the first time in the Premier League era that the club has gone so long without a clean sheet on the road. You have to look back to the 1985/86 season under Ron Atkinson to find the last time they endured such a barren defensive streak away from home.
Amorim's Frustration and Perspective
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, manager Ruben Amorim expressed a mixture of frustration and measured optimism. He believed his team performed better than in their previous match against Wolves and controlled large portions of the game at Elland Road.
"I think we played well," Amorim stated. "We had more control in this game... We controlled Leeds, on the set pieces, the second balls. We controlled it well. We had our opportunities to win the game."
The Portuguese coach refused to single out Ayden Heaven for his error that led to the Leeds goal, emphasising the collective nature of performance. "Ayden and Leny [Yoro] are really young but it is not because of that," he explained. "If you play so well during 90 minutes and you have a mistake, that can happen."
He reiterated this point in an interview with BBC Match of the Day, highlighting his team's progress despite the disappointing result. "The game plan was to understand what we did wrong against Wolves. We improved a lot... We improved from the last game," Amorim said.
A Wider Defensive Crisis
The statistics paint a stark picture of United's struggles. The ongoing away clean sheet drought is the most glaring issue, but the problems run deeper. Analysis reveals that no team outside the Premier League's bottom six has conceded more goals than Manchester United this season.
This persistent vulnerability at the back is undermining their progress under Amorim. While the manager pointed to improved control and game management compared to last season, the fine details in defence continue to cost them valuable points.
"We are losing games on the details," Amorim admitted, referencing the quick transition that led to Aaronson's opener. "We need to be connected all the time."
As the club looks ahead to their next fixture, finding a solution to this historic defensive frailty will be paramount if they are to turn promising performances into consistent victories and mount a serious challenge for the top four.
