Man Utd dressing room admission tells Erik ten Hag everything he needs to know
This was another grind for Manchester United, a win borne out of pragmatism rather than flair.
With just 13 goals from 12 games this season, United are the lowest scorers in the Premier League's top 10 by some distance. They are also the only side in the top half with a negative goal difference.
United's rich history is built on a reputation for exciting, attacking, free-scoring football, but Erik ten Hag's side are currently a pale imitation of their illustrious predecessors.
Creating chances is not the problem, but converting them is, United again guilty of lacking conviction in front of goal, wasting a series of opportunities.
Victor Lindelof's second-half goal was ultimately enough to send United into the international break with a win and ease the pressure on Ten Hag.
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But there was an acknowledgement from within the United dressing room that they must score more goals if they are to have any chance of success this season.
“We want to play good football and we want to perform well,” said defender Harry Maguire. "We've got to be a little bit more ruthless in terms of our attacking intent and in terms of getting the second goal that would kill the game off and then we can enjoy our football.
“That’s what everyone will be talking about. But I see the forwards day in, day out in training. The top players all have the ability to score goals.
“At the moment we're not scoring enough goals and we know that. But we aren’t keeping enough clean sheets as well.
Erik ten Hag's Man United beat Luton 1-0 (Getty Images)“I think in the past you’ve seen our attackers are top-quality players and can do it. Maybe a little bit of luck will turn and they’ll get the first one and the goals will follow. I'm sure they will because they are all very good players.”
It was another day to forget for Marcus Rashford, United's top scorer last season with 30 goals, but who has just one from 16 games this season.
Rashford is low on confidence and squandered chances he would have dispatched with ease last season, while £72million striker Rasmus Hojlund has yet to score in the league.
Hojlund has five goals in the Champions League for United, but has yet to bring that clinical edge to the Premier League, although Maguire is confident he will do so in time.
“Ras is a top player,” said Maguire. “You’ve seen his work ethic and what he brings to the team in recent weeks.
Victor Lindelof scored for Man United against Luton (OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)“He does a lot more than scoring goals. He scores goals in training, he's scored goals in the Champions League and I'm sure it is a matter of time before he bangs in a few in the Premier League as well.”
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For Maguire, his impressive form continued, his current run in the side vindication of his decision to stay and fight for his place, rather than move in the summer.
“I played a few games last year, 16 or 17 starts, and felt like I performed really well,” said Maguire. "I just didn’t play as much as I would have liked. I had to bide my time and be patient.
“I had two or three opportunities last season to get a run of games but I broke down with illness and injuries, so I never got the run of games to prove myself to the manager. I've got that now, I'm really enjoying my football and I really enjoy playing for this club.
“I was willing to stay and fight for my place. We have top international centre-backs at this club and the competition for places is really high.”
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