We are better for feeling poorly

ASHLEY YOUNG pointed out the big difference between Manchester United this season and last: they are winning when playing poorly.

And the rejuvenated wing-back says digging out 1-0 wins will be vital in the chase to catch neighbours Manchester City in the title race.

There is a popular but incorrect perception that United under Sir Alex Ferguson were all about free-flowing

MAN UTD BRIGHTON

football and goals. In truth, Fergie built many of his 13 title triumphs on the back of 1-0 wins.

United won eight games by a solitary goal on the way to the championship in 199596 and seven in 2007-08.

So far this season under Jose Mourinho, they have now had three. Young admits they got lucky against this well-organised Brighton side when his second-half shot took a deflection off Lewis Dunk’s leg but took the positives from a result that Mourinho confessed was based “more on heart and spirit than quality”.

“If we are totally honest, we didn’t play as well as we could do,” said Young. “But it is the sign of a good team to play poorly and still win. That’s where we’ve come on from last season when maybe we would have drawn or even lost this sort of game.”

Apart from a double save from Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba just before the break, Matt Ryan had a quiet afternoon for a visiting goalkeeper at Old Trafford. The Australian said: “We believe in ourselves and we believe we can be a difficult side for anyone.”