Jose Mourinho described Manchester United as the unluckiest team in the Premier League after their 1-1 draw with Arsenal, but do the stats back him up? Juan Matas second-half goal appeared to be sending United to a well-deserved victory at Old Trafford on Saturday, only for Olivier Giroud to pull Arsenal level with their only shot on target.
[b]Cheap Dodgers Jerseys[/b] .It was a bitter blow for United, who dominated the game for long periods, and it prompted Mourinho to rue his sides misfortune. I am really happy with the team, but at the moment I consider us the unluckiest team in the Premier League because it is the reality, he told Sky Sports. If you analyse the last three matches. Against Stoke we have to win 5-0 or 6-0 and we draw. Against Burnley we have to win 5-0 or 6-0 and we draw and today we have to win 2-0 or 3-0 and we draw.So does Mourinho have a point? Or is he making excuses? From key decisions to hitting the woodwork, we examine the evidence…Refereeing decisionsMourinho rarely bites his tongue when it comes to decisions going against his side and this season there have been a number of flashpoints. The United boss was angered by two decisions during the Manchester derby defeat to City back in September. Claudio Bravo challenges Wayne Rooney during the Manchester derby First, there was Claudio Bravos lunge on Wayne Rooney, then an Antonio Valencia cross struck Nicolas Otamendi on the elbow. Mourinho criticised Mark Clattenburg for failing to award penalties in both cases. Former referee Dermot Gallagher agreed with Mourinho about the Bravo incident in his weekly column for Sky Sports, but he felt Clattenburg was right to overlook the Otamendi incident.In Uniteds following game against Watford, they conceded the opening goal after Anthony Martial was robustly dispossessed by Miguel Britos. Mourinho described the decision to let play continue as ridiculous, while Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said the Watford defender had kicked through his left leg to get the ball. PL contenders highs and lows We examine each of the title contenders highs and lows so far this season. Clattenburg enraged Mourinho again when he didnt award United a penalty after Matteo Darmian went down following a clash with Jon Flanagan in their 0-0 draw with Burnley last month. Mourinho was handed a one-game ban for his furious reaction, but replays showed the contact was minimal. Nacho Monreal tangled with Antonio Valencia in Saturdays game There was another penalty incident against Arsenal, with Valencia going to ground after Nacho Monreal raised an arm across his body. Mourinho chose not to criticise Andre Marriner over the incident, but it was a decision which could have gone either way. Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal While Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been awarded at least four penalties this season, United have only had one. But while there have been a number of decisions to irk Mourinho, they have not all been quite as clear-cut as he might tell you. And on the other hand, they have only had one penalty awarded against them. Penalties won and conceded - Premier League 2016/17 Team Penalties won Team Penalties conceded Manchester City 5 Hull 6 Arsenal 4 Southampton 4 Liverpool 4 West Ham 4 Tottenham 4 Arsenal 3 Crystal Palace 3 Bournemouth 3 Leicester 3 Everton 3 Sunderland 3 Swansea 3 - - - - Manchester Utd 1 Manchester Utd 1 Injury count?One area in which United have undoubtedly been unfortunate is injuries. Defensive issues forced Mourinho to field a makeshift back four against Arsenal on Saturday, and it was not the first time this season that his options have been depleted. Manchester United have lost Eric Bailly to injury this season In fact, according to PhysioRoom.com, United have racked up the second-highest total of injuries this season with 27. Only relegation battlers Sunderland have suffered more (30). Most injuries - Premier League 2016/17 Team Injuries Sunderland 30 Manchester United 27 Liverpool 24 Tottenham 22 Leicester 21 Manchester City 20 Arsenal 19 Crystal Palace 19 Southampton 19 Watford 19 West Ham 19 Goalkeeping heroics?Manchester Uniteds shot conversion rate of 11.6 per cent is the fifth-lowest in the Premier League. Its partly down to wasteful finishing, but they have also had the misfortune of facing goalkeepers in the form of their lives. Tom Heaton pulled off a string of impressive saves against Manchester United Stoke shot-stopper Lee Grant rescued the Potters with eight saves in their 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, while Tom Heatons performance in the 0-0 draw with Burnley was even better. The 30-year-old made 11 saves in total, including one described as one of the best in Premier League history by Peter Schmeichel. Bad luck or bad finishing? Manchester United have had 74 shots to their opponents 19 in the last three Premier League games at Old Trafford, yet the aggregate score is 2-2. In total, opposition goalkeepers have made 49 saves against Manchester United this season, a far higher total than the Premier League average of 34. Its not just a question of bad luck, but its certainly been a factor.Hitting the woodworkFootball is a game of fine margins and there are few things more frustrating than seeing your sides shots come back off the woodwork. United have rattled the frame of the goal five times in total - including twice each in their draws with Stoke and Burnley.You could call it bad luck, but its nothing compared to Bournemouth, who have been denied by the woodwork 13 times in total. In fact, six Premier League sides have hit the woodwork more times than United. Most times hit woodwork - Premier League 2016/17 Team Hit woodwork Bournemouth 13 Arsenal 7 Manchester City 7 Tottenham 7 Liverpool 6 Stoke 6 Manchester United 5 Southampton 5 Late goals?Girouds equaliser on Saturday was the fourth time United have conceded in the 80th minute or later this season, putting them comfortably above the Premier League average of 2.5 late goals per side.It happened twice in Uniteds 3-1 defeat to Watford back in September and it also happened with Joe Allens late leveller for Stoke last month. Add Girouds equaliser and United would be five points better off had they managed to hold on in those games. But while Mourinho might call it bad luck, it also raises questions over complacency. Olivier Girouds equaliser was the fourth late goal Manchester United have conceded in the Premier League this season So while the evidence suggests United have indeed had their share of bad luck, particularly with injuries and goalkeeping heroics, there are clearly numerous other factors at play.Mourinho will be hoping things fall into place in the weeks ahead, but United are not the only side to have been hit by misfortune, and their prospects of turning things around are dependent on more than just a change of luck.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4th! Also See: PL contenders highs and lows Jose: Utds unluckiest team
[b]Sandy Koufax Jersey[/b] . Kerr said he had dinner with Jackson, his former coach with Chicago and the new Knicks team president, on Friday night and they talked again Saturday. Kerr is in New York to work the game between the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors for TNT.
[b]Maury Wills Jersey[/b] . And thats good news for Canada. Kelly, who plays No. 8 at the back of the scrum, is captain of the Canadian womens team.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Patience is a virtue in hockey, too. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots and flu-weakened James Wisniewski had a goal and two assists to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 4-1 victory over the struggling New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. Nothing much happened in the first 26 minutes of play, but the Blue Jackets adhered to their game plan and in the end it paid huge dividends. "We kind of just stuck with it," said Cam Atkinson, who scored an unassisted goal for what proved to be the winner. "Theyre a trap team so whoever broke down first, the other teams going to capitalize. A big power-play goal by Dubie kind of got the ball rolling for us." Brandon Dubinsky had a goal and an assist and Marian Gaborik added an empty-netter for the Blue Jackets, who won for the second time at home after losing four games in a row. They are 13-3-3 in their last 19 home games. "We played a smart, systematic game -- thats what the Devils do," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "It was a little bit of a chess match going back and forth. I like the way we managed the puck and managed our shifts. There just wasnt a lot going on and you have to be comfortable playing that game. Patience is a good way to describe it." Leading 2-1, the Blue Jackets made it a two-goal lead at 4:12 of the third. The Devils had a bad turnover in their defensive zone, with Wisniewski stepping across the blue line and almost pushing the puck toward the net. The puck hit the stick of defenceman Mark Fayne and went through to goalie Corey Schneider before tumbling over the goal line. That was more than enough of a cushion for Bobrovsky, last years Vezina Trophy winner as the NHLs top goalie. He came in with just two wins despite a .921 save percentage while starting the first seven games. He made several solid saves in the second period, in particular, but wasnt tested much in the third. "Obviously, Bob was a rock for us tonight," Atkinson said. The loss dropped the Devils to 0-5-2 on the road and 1-5-3 on the season. They had finally picked up their first win with a 4-0 victory on Saturday that ended a club-record, season-opening seven-game winless streak. "We definitely wanted to build off that win. We started that way with the power-play goal (by Michael Ryder), but we didnt do it," captain Bryce Salvador said. Asked what thhe teams problem was on the road, Salvador said, "I dont know.
[b]Yasiel Puig Jersey[/b]. . If we knew, wed definitely address it and fix it." Coach Peter DeBoer was left to explain another defeat. "We turned the puck over in our own zone a couple of times and they banged it in," he said. "Were all searching for answers. The bottom line is, when you go on the road and play these teams -- and thats a big strong team -- you have to have 20 guys prepared to be in the fight and win battles. You cant go in with 15 or 16." The Devils led 1-0 after Ryders power-play goal in the second period, but Dubinsky responded with a man-advantage goal of his own. Atkinson and Wisniewski, who didnt come out for the morning skate he was so sick, each added unassisted goals. "I woke up at 6 a.m. and (was really sick)," Wisniewski said. "We showed a lot of character in the way we played. It took us a while to get going, but we found a way to win." The Blue Jackets took a 2-1 lead at 15:30 of the second when Atkinson skated toward the high slot. His quick backhander made it through heavy traffic for his third of the season. After Wisniewskis goal, Gaborik scored his fourth on an empty net with 35 seconds left in the game. The Blue Jackets are a different team from when they couldnt gain a point on the road a week ago. "The big word for me is urgency," Dubinsky said. "Were a lot more urgent in our game. Were putting long stretches of (good) time together. If you look through those losses, we had stretches where we were playing good but just not for long enough. Over the last couple of games, weve just dug deep and played complete games." NOTES: New Jersey F Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,400th NHL game. He is the active leader in goals (683, 10th all-time), assists (1,011, 12th) and points (1,694, 8th). ... The Blue Jackets are 29-0-0 since Jan. 9, 2012 when leading after two periods. ... The Devils allowed assistant coach Mike Foligno to fly to Columbus on Sunday so he could spend time with his son Nick, a Blue Jackets forward, his wife and new granddaughter Milana, diagnosed with a heart condition soon after her Oct. 14 birth. ... The Devils fell to 1-2-3 when scoring first, while the Blue Jackets are 3-1-0 when down 1-0. ... It was Columbus D David Savards 23rd birthday. ... Schneider had 20 saves for the Devils.
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