Solskjaer fearful and Neville lets rip

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER admitted he is worried about Manchester United’s loss of form after they were held to a third successive goalless draw last night at Crystal Palace. United legend Gary Neville branded the display from Solskjaer’s second-placed side ‘boring’ and warned they were in danger of ‘sleepwalking into a top-four race’. Solskjaer said: ‘Sometimes you just don’t hit the form you have had for many, many months. It’s a bit of a worry, of course it is, but I know that the boys are giving everything and that’s the thing. We play every three days and I know they’re giving everything they’ve got. Attitude and approach I’m very happy with. The quality? We need to get back to what we know we can do. ‘We just didn’t have the quality and tempo in the passing. We started slow and it’s never nice to see the opposition take the initiative. We did create some chances but we didn’t have enough of it and build enough pressure for their keeper to make saves.’

Neville warned: ‘They are so lethargic, no urgency. You can win, lose, draw but you can’t be boring. That was boring watching that.’ Dean Henderson kept a clean sheet in the absence of David de Gea, who missed out due to personal reasons. Asked if De Gea will miss Sunday’s Manchester derby, Solskjaer added: ‘I can’t really say about David. It’s a private matter. Dean is ready if he is called upon.’ As for Palace, boss Roy Hodgson said: ‘It’s an excellent point. We limited their chances and had some opportunities ourselves.’