Neville says Smalling and Jones are ‘disaster’ at the back

PHIL Jones and Chris Smalling were branded a ‘disaster’ after United fell to a 1-0 defeat against Newcastle on Sunday.

The scathing words were from Phil Neville speaking on Match of the Day 2.

The former United defender let rip at the duo after the Toon clung on to victory.

Poor defending from United led to Matt Ritchie scoring the only goal of the game and sealing the win for Newcastle.

United boast the best defensive record in the league, but Neville says that is not down to Jones and Smalling.

“They have got the best defensive record because they have the best goalkeeper in the world in David de Gea and [Nemanja] Matic out in front who protects them really well,” Neville said.

“But the last two away games [against Tottenham and Newcastle], Smalling and Jones have been a disaster.

“Against Dele Alli and Harry Kane, they got bullied.”

Neville also says errors aren’t letting Smalling and Jones down, it’s their lack of decisiveness.

“Against Newcastle did they make many mistakes, no, but they created a nervousness and a tension,” the new England Women’s boss said.

“They were making decision that were strange.

“They were making decisions all day where you were thinking, ‘what are you doing?’

“They brought these two as the best young centre-backs in England.”