Reds will respond, says Carrick

Michael Carrick says the best way for Manchester United to combat their problems is to face them head on.

While Wednesday's draw with Shakhtar Donetsk has left the Red Devils in a decent position in the Champions League, United head to Sunderland tomorrow on the back of their worst start to a domestic campaign since 1989. They are in the bottom half of the table and should they get beaten at the Stadium of Light, it will be the first time they have lost three successive league games since 2001.

Midfield man Carrick insists the pressure has not been seeping into the dressing room, but he knows the reality can’t be avoided.

"You have periods when things don't quite go right," he said. "You just have to find a way to get through it. You can't hide and go under. You have to respond. That is what we will do."

United can take comfort from the knowledge they haven’t lost a league game at the Stadium of Light since 1997.

Yet Carrick accepts United can’t perform as they did against Manchester City and West Brom.

"I think we just get back to doing the right things, doing what we believe in. If we do that, in time we will be fine," he said.