Following Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park, Gary Neville raised concerns over Manchester United’s away record against the top nine teams this season.
Manchester United have played six of the top nine away from home so far this season and have lost each one.
To make that statistic somehow worse, we’ve shipped 25 goals in those matches.
It’s a worrying trend and something Ten Hag will need to address because an away record like ours could see us drop out of the top four. A costly price for not being good enough on the road.
Man Utd are struggling for a result on the road against top half teams this season… 😳 pic.twitter.com/MsnROfYymb
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 3, 2023
Goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson in the second half handed Eddie Howe’s side three important points on Sunday. They’ve leap-frogged us in the table and will be full of confidence for the weeks ahead.
“There are more emerging signs that away from home at the big grounds, where you need to turn up and show that spirit and fight, and also the courage to play, there is more evidence they are not good enough in these types of matches,” said Neville, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“They could still go and have a very good season. Manchester United have responded many times to defeats like this, where they have been well beaten. They play Brentford and Everton later in the week and if they get six points they look like they’re in a great position again.
“But they are not fooling anyone in respect of the bigger picture of where they need to go. Erik ten Hag will know that, they need to make sure they continue to improve but there are worrying signs in these big matches away from home. They just don’t turn up.
“When you look at Manchester United’s season overall, I am happy with where they are but you have to turn up in the big games away from home. You have to show that you can play in the biggest games.
“Barcelona is an outlier where they played really well away from home, but other than Barcelona, against the top teams, there is too much evidence. If you can’t play in the biggest games for Man United then you have no chance. Erik ten Hag will need to work out which ones he can take forward that can do it and which ones can’t.”
United have three home games coming up before travelling to Nottingham Forest on April 16. Three more away games follow that (Sevilla, Brighton and Tottenham).
Let us know in the comments section if you are confident about United finishing in the top four this season.
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