MX23RW : Sunday, September 16 07:07:38

Chris Smalling: 'Manchester United must defend better'

Smalling: 'United must defend better'
© Reuters
Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling admits that his side's defence needs to improve if they are to turn around their underwhelming start to the new season.

Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling has admitted that his side need to improve their defence as they look to bounce back from an underwhelming start to their season.

Jose Mourinho's side claimed their first clean sheet of the new campaign at the weekend with a 2-0 win at Burnley, having previously conceded seven times in their opening three games.

"Last season we picked up a lot of clean sheets and this year we've conceded early goals," Smalling told MUTV.

"We need to get back what we've done in the last few seasons when we've conceded very few goals, like on Sunday.

"It was down to us players to stand up tall and get a result, and we're very happy with the win.

"With us not having a game in the week, we'd been able to work on a lot of patterns of play and you could see them coming out and finishing with the goals, so we were happy with that."

Next up for United after the international break is a trip to high-flying Watford.

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Alexis Sanchez in action for Manchester United on August 10, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea55001441015
2Liverpool5500112915
3Manchester CityMan City54101431113
4Watford5401105512
5Bournemouth5311107310
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs530210649
7Arsenal530210919
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd53028809
9Everton41307616
10Leicester CityLeicester520389-16
11Crystal Palace520346-26
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves412145-15
13Southampton41124404
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton411257-24
15Fulham5113712-54
16Cardiff CityCardiff502339-62
17Huddersfield TownHuddersfield5023211-92
18Newcastle UnitedNewcastle501448-41
19Burnley401339-61
20West Ham UnitedWest Ham4004210-80

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