NO MOR SLIP-UPS

Smalling: We must reToon to winning ways.. and quick

MANCHESTER UNITED cannot afford any more slip-ups in the title race, defender Chris Smalling has warned.

Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea (above, Alvaro Morata netting the winner) left the Reds eight points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

They have lost two of their last three Premier League outings, and Smalling admits they must beat Newcastle in their first game back following the international break.

“It’s unfortunate there’s now an international break,” he said.

“But we will have to regroup and in our next game make sure we put on a performance to rectify this. I think it’s about us getting back to Old Trafford for that game and put on a performance the fans can be proud of.”

He felt United were unlucky to leave Stamford Bridge emptyhanded.

“The result was frustrating because we put in so much effort and I think we controlled large parts of the game,” said the 27-year-old (above).

“We put them on the back foot in the first half, we just needed to take one of the chances when we had the momentum. We also put Chelsea under some pressure in the last 20 minutes and I thought we deserved a goal.”

The defeat was part of a bigger picture that will concern United, with boss Jose Mourinho having not won away against a top-six rival since November 2014, at Liverpool, when he was in charge at Chelsea.

In nine of his past 10 games against opponents in that bracket his teams have failed to score, the last time they did so coming towards the end of last season in a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

After making an explosive start to his Old Trafford career with 11 goals in 10 games, Romelu Lukaku has not scored in his last seven and looks devoid of confidence.

With Juan Mata having scored just once this season and providing no assists in the league, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan a passenger after a bright start, these are worrying times for the club.

There is little in terms of creative output and service to Lukaku, and the continued absence of £89million midfielder Paul Pogba, who has missed 12 games with a hamstring injury, is hitting hard.

And there is no suggestion he will be ready to return for the visit of Newcastle.