Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has opened up on his frustration at the way his side started both halves against Leeds United on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils fell behind inside the first minute of the Premier League clash, with Willy Gnonto making the breakthrough to silence Old Trafford.
Leeds then doubled their advantage in the 48th minute, as an own goal from Raphael Varane put the Whites in a strong position to secure all three points in Manchester.
However, Marcus Rashford halved the deficit in the 62nd minute before Jadon Sancho levelled eight minutes later, with the points ultimately being shared in a 2-2 draw.
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"Very poor (early goals in each half). It's unacceptable. You start any game, but especially a derby, the way we did. We were down and had to fight back. We made big mistakes," Ten Hag told reporters after the match.
"That's to do with attitude. We were not ready to go into the duels. We lose the duels and the formation was also bad at the start. When we lost the ball, we didn't follow the principles and were quickly down. And, from the warning in the first half, the second half was the same.
"The players know we have to move. It wasn't necessary [Pascal] Struijk wins the ball there and he had to get away, with our movements we have to force them to stay low.
"That's not right. We have to live with it. It still doesn't mean it has to be a goal. We have to keep Gnonto on the left side and not let him come inside.
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"I have to make compliments to the team for the resilience and the way they fight back. I think we make some really good football, great chances and, finally, also we finished and scored two great goals.
"Actually, had we not conceded that early goal, we played quite decent and created chances. Alejandro Garnacho, twice, had to score. Marcel Sabitzer twice had good shots, Raphael Varane with the header. I think, if we equalise before half-time, we win the game.
"If we don't concede a goal after half-time, we will win that game but you cannot concede. Of course, it will encourage us for the second game in a couple of days that, if we play our game, we can beat them. And we have to beat them. But you need composure all the time.
"Also I think, in the last 20 minutes, when it is 2-2, we were composed and you will make chances and we created so many chances. The finishing wasn't always that good but we created them."
Man United will be bidding to return to winning ways when they visit Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, with the two sides set to lock horns once again.
Matt Law
