Che Adams scored for a second consecutive game for SouthamptonManchester United had to settle for another 1-1 draw after being left frustrated by an impressive Southampton in the Premier League.
Ralf Rangnick's men are getting used to that scoreline, which has now cropped up in three successive games - leading to a penalty shootout defeat by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and a league draw at Burnley.
United had taken a first-half lead against the Saints - as they did against Burnley and Boro - but once again conceded a second-half equaliser and could not find a winning goal.
The hosts went ahead after 21 minutes as Marcus Rashford escaped in behind the Saints defence and played the ball off for Jadon Sancho to convert an easy finish.
Paul Pogba tapped home on the stroke of half-time but the goal was disallowed as Cristiano Ronaldo had strayed offside - and the Portuguese forward later had a header chalked off.
United were unable to press home their superiority and were made to pay at the start of the second half as Che Adams stayed onside to slot a finish into the far corner via the foot of the post.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's men, humiliated 9-0 on their previous visit to Old Trafford last February, were on top for long periods thereafter and may have pulled off a victory.
On-loan Armando Broja saw a drive pushed away by David de Gea, who was kept busy, while Stuart Armstrong blazed wildly over from a promising position.
The draw meant United were unable to move into the top four, while Southampton - who have now lost just once in 10 matches in all competitions - stay in 10th place.
Man Utd continue to misfire
United interim boss Rangnick spoke before the game about the "obvious" need for the club to bring in a new striker this coming summer and the evidence for that is clear following another misfiring performance.
Star man Ronaldo is the top scorer with 14 goals this season but has hit a barren run of six games without finding the net, his longest period without scoring in 11 years.
Seemingly lacking in confidence, the Portuguese was outmuscled and outfought by the Southampton centre-backs and when he did have a presentable opportunity in the first six minutes, he went round goalkeeper Fraser Forster - only to scuff a shot that was cleared off the line by Romain Perraud.
Forster could do little about Sancho's finish as Rashford played the ball across perfectly for his England team-mate, but did manage to keep out a clipped effort from the ex-Borussia Dortmund player.
United could have won it in injury time but the visiting goalkeeper made a stunning save low down to his left to deny Harry Maguire's header.
At the other end, January's Premier League player of the month De Gea was providing the heroics for his side again, showing good handling to smother Armstrong's acrobatic volley and Perraud's low curler.
Adams deservedly netted by sliding home a cool finish on 47 minutes - meaning he has now scored in back-to-back games - and Southampton had the United backline rattled in the second half.
Albania international Broja was proving a nuisance for the out-of-form Maguire and should have done better when he was one-on-one with De Gea, dinking a shot wide.
Ultimately, the south coast side claimed a point, backing up Wednesday's impressive comeback victory at Tottenham and remain unbeaten in Manchester this season.
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Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
1de Gea
20Dalot19Varane5Maguire23Shaw
39McTominay6Pogba
10Rashford18Bruno Fernandes25Sancho
7Cristiano Ronaldo
1de Gea20Dalot19Varane5Maguire23Shaw39McTominayBooked at 31minsSubstituted forElangaat 76'minutes6PogbaBooked at 85mins10RashfordBooked at 16minsSubstituted forLingardat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins18Bruno Fernandes25Sancho7Cristiano RonaldoSubstitutes
2Lindelöf4Jones8Mata14Lingard26Henderson27Telles29Wan-Bissaka36Elanga46MejbriSouthampton
Formation 4-4-2
44Forster
2Walker-Peters35Bednarek22Salisu15Perraud
17S Armstrong8Ward-Prowse6Romeu24Elyounoussi
18Broja10Adams
44Forster2Walker-Peters35BednarekSubstituted forStephensat 45'minutes22Salisu15Perraud17S Armstrong8Ward-Prowse6RomeuSubstituted forDialloat 90+5'minutes24ElyounoussiSubstituted forLivramentoat 71'minutes18Broja10AdamsSubstitutes
5Stephens7Long9A Armstrong13Caballero19Djenepo20Smallbone21Livramento27Diallo43ValeryReferee:Stuart AttwellAttendance:73,084Live Text
Match ends, Manchester United 1, Southampton 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Southampton 1.
Substitution, Southampton. Ibrahima Diallo replaces Oriol Romeu.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Oriol Romeu (Southampton).
Attempt saved. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Luke Shaw with a cross.
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Che Adams (Southampton).
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Paul Pogba (Manchester United).
Valentino Livramento (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt blocked. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
Substitution, Manchester United. Jesse Lingard replaces Marcus Rashford.
Offside, Manchester United. Luke Shaw tries a through ball, but Jadon Sancho is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes.
Substitution, Manchester United. Anthony Elanga replaces Scott McTominay.
Valentino Livramento (Southampton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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