Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rues missed chances as Manchester United blow lead twice to draw with Leicester

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was left to rue his Manchester United side’s missed chances as they twice blew a lead to draw 2-2 with Leicester in the Premier League on Boxing Day.

Marcus Rashford put the visitors ahead on 23 minutes at the King Power Stadium but elsewhere missed a great opportunity to double his tally on the day, with Anthony Martial also netting for the Red Devils before being ruled offside.

Harvey Barnes pulled Leicester level just after the half-hour mark as the home team responded to Rashford’s opener, and it wasn’t until the 79th minute that Bruno Fernandes restored United’s lead.

Axel Tuanzebe scored an own goal six minutes later – with Foxes striker Jamie Vardy initially credited with the goal – to ensure the points were shared, leaving Leicester second in the Premier League on 28 points, three behind Liverpool, and United third, one point behind Brendan Rodgers’ side.

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Asked whether he thought his team had wrapped up all three points following Fernandes’ strike, Solskjaer told BT Sport: “You can’t think that before the game’s over and the whistle’s blown. 

“So of course we’re disappointed that we don’t win this afternoon. [We had] loads of big chances and we could’ve finished it off, but then again they’re a very dangerous side, quality side.”

Among those big chances was Martial’s offside finish just after the hour mark, which preceded Fernandes’ goal.

“Good goal, good pass by Edinson [Cavani], good timing,” Solskjaer said of the Portugal midfielder’s strike. “We’d just had a similar type of chance before, Anthony [Martial]’s chance. You can’t celebrate [that one] – you just don’t know if it’s a goal or offside.”

And commenting on Rashford’s notable miss and later goal, the United coach said: “Very good goal that he scored and of course he knows that his first chance is a glorious one, a big one. 

“It seems like he’s finished his header before the ball came and it’s hit the top of his head. Just one of those things.”

Solskjaer also felt his team could have done more to prevent the goals they conceded.

“Both goals should have been closed down quicker,” the Norwegian said. “First one definitely, second one as well – down the side there, we should manage to stop the cross. You always look at the goals conceded and think you could or should have done better.”

United next host Wolves on 29 December, and Solskjaer admitted he was grateful for the extra day his team will receive to recover before that clash.

"Of course we’ve got a game in three days, we’ve got an extra recovery day, which we’ll use wisely.”

One player who could certainly use that time to recover is United defender Victor Lindelof, who left the pitch on 66 minutes.

“He struggled with his back,” Solskjaer said. “He’s struggled for a little while, so we might have to do something. Let’s see what it is.”

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