United have triumphed in 26 of those 37 undefeated matches, having scored four goals or more in 10 of those battles. Four of those free-scoring performances have come during the seven matches on home soil this season. But such solid form is built more on defensive solidity rather than any attacking prowess that United might have developed.The Red Devils have kept a hugely impressive 21 clean sheets during this streak, but their inability to kill opponents off means Mourinho’s side are the only team with double figures in the draws column on the home side of the Premier League table.Those draws last season not only ruined a title tilt, but also their hopes of finishing in the top four. Three goalless stalemates against Burnley, West Brom and Hull last term cost United six points they would have banked on taking, while seven other sides, including bottom-half dwellers Stoke, Swansea, Burnley and West Ham, secured 1-1 draws.
That left Mourinho looking to make up for 14 missing points that he expected upon the release of the fixtures, and United’s record against the rest of the top six, when a point would usually satisfy the manager, was nowhere near close to compensating.