Mings makes Ole pay after United falter yet again
MANCHESTER United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits his side did not deserve to beat Aston Villa but insists he is not yet concerned about their league position.
Having recovered from Jack Grealish’s brilliant opener, United took the lead through goalkeeper Tom Heaton’s own goal and Victor Lindelof’s header only to be pegged back to draw 2-2 by Tyrone Mings’ volley.
Victory would have lifted United to fifth, just six points behind Chelsea, but a second successive league draw leaves them ninth in the table.
‘First half it seemed we couldn’t get to grips with going 1-0 down. I didn’t think we dealt with that particularly well,’ said the Norwegian, whose side have made their worst start to a league campaign since 1988-89.
‘Second half was better. We created loads of big chances that should have won this game but overall I don’t think we deserved to, especially after the first half. I wouldn’t have sat here and talked about us being fifth if we had got that one goal extra, so the league table at this point is not the biggest concern because it is so tight.
‘I just need to make sure we get performances and get three or four performances after each other, and results. What I can say is so far we have had the lead in so many games and we haven’t been able to win those games.
‘Six or seven times we’ve been 1-0 up, or 2-1 or 3-2 like we were last week. We should be better at seeing those games into wins.’
Villa boss Dean Smith praised Grealish and dismissed suggestions his star midfielder may need to leave Villa Park to earn an England call.
‘I don’t agree with that. Tyrone Mings is in the England squad and during international weeks we have 12 players away,’ said Smith.
‘He just has to keep doing what he is doing. He is a top player.’