30 September 2023 , 21:47
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Alan Shearer has shut down suggestions that Manchester United 's defeat to Crystal Palace can be pinned on the Red Devils' faltering attack.
United fell to their fourth defeat in seven top-flight games, their worst-ever start to a Premier League season on Saturday. Joachim Andersen's stunning first-half volley was enough for Palace to claim all three points at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag's side had more than their fair share of chances to get back into the game though. The hosts had 19 shots in total, but only eight of them were on target, as well as an astonishing 77 percent of the possession.
That amount of dominance has led Shearer to insist that Palace deserve all the attention. He hailed the visitors for their defensive performance and dismissed the suggestion that United's attacking performance should be closely scrutinised.
" Manchester United were very poor in front of goal, albeit having to come up against a rock of a defence in Crystal Palace. Roy Hodgson set his team up to frustrate, and Guehi and Andersen in particular were absolutely outstanding at the back," Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live.
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"No way through them, defended deep and hit on the counter when they got the opportunity. A lot of talk will be about Man United, about them not creating well and playing well enough, but Palace deserve all the credit, their defensive display stopped the home side from playing."
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United endured a tough day in attack (Getty Images)While Shearer insisted the focus should not be on United, Ten Hag was left frustrated by his side's break down in attack. And the Red Devils boss demanded his side step up their performance levels after a desperate start to the season.
"It's actually quite simple. We concede only three chances over the course of the whole game, three from set-plays. Their goal, first of all, the free-kick. You have to be more controlled, it's not necessary to make a foul there," he said.
"Then the ball is coming into the box and it's not good defending. And we had poor decisions in the final third. We came so often in good positions, behind or in front of their backline, we had three players there in that moment.
"We didn't have an impact to get to their goal and so whatever, the extra pass, final pass or a shot. The quality was just not good enough in that part of the game. In the final part of the game, we didn't play our best game.
"Of course it's frustrating. If you are there in the positions when you want to come, in that moment, the form on the day is not there to score a goal. We were, many times, close and then you have to be clinical, concentrated and be sharp.
"Go for the goal. We have the abilities to score a goal. There were many occasions, I can't count them, but we are in the position to put the ball where we want to be. Yes, these players can do better. We have more qualities than we showed today."