#3 St. Etienne’s lack of an out-and-out striker costs them dear
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St. Etienne’s reaction to going behind was absolutely sensational. They pressed United hard, got their full-backs, Florentin Pogba and Kevin Malcuit, to advance high up the pitch and exploit gaps in the United defence to get a shot away. The rate at which St. Etienne peppered the Red Devils’ goal in the latter stages of the first half worried Jose Mourinho, as he made a disgusted walk down the tunnel before half-time.
However, St. Etienne will probably rue not having the luxury of a quality centre-forward to put away all the chances that were created. They have scored just 30 league goals so far in Ligue 1 and their top-scorer Romain Hamouma has just seven goals in all competitions.
Goals have been the French outfit’s issue this season and this was clearly evident at Old Trafford. Despite all the brilliant approach play, they relied on shots from long range – Henri Saivet, Kevin Monnet-Pacquet and Vincent Pajot, were all unable to finish off what looked like promising goal-scoring chances.
It was desperate defending from the Manchester United centre-halves Bailly and Chris Smalling, as they had to get bodies in the way of shots. St. Etienne’s positivity in the attacking third made for a great contest, but it was the absence of a recognised number 9 that will really come back to haunt them.
