Reds ace refuses to throw in towel

PHIL Jones insists Manchester United haven’t given up hope of catching league leaders Chelsea.

United’s 11–match unbeaten run came to a shock end when they lost 1–0 to Southampton at Old Trafford. The defeat dropped United to fourth, 12 points behind Chelsea, who in turn are two points in front of Manchester City.

United were so poor on Sunday they failed to take a single on-target shot.

United’s £150million, four–man attack looked blunt - but Jones believes it would be wrong to make a snap judgment on the team’s title aspirations based on Sunday.

When asked whether the loss meant it would be hard to catch Chelsea or City, the United defender said: “No. You have seen teams dropping points. Chelsea were clear of City and then two games within a week and they are back in it. That’s how football changes. You just never know who is going to drop points.”

After 21 matches Van Gaal has amassed 37 points — the same number as his predecessor David Moyes, who was sacked after 10 months having spent less than half the money on transfers as his successor.