LVG on the attack

LOUIS van Gaal has blamed blanket defences for Manchester United’s uninspiring football.

The Dutchman saw his side score three times and still not win as Newcastle fought back to snatch a 3–3 Barclays Premier League draw at St James’ Park on a night when the United boss could hardly claim to have been bored.

But he insisted his team was able to attack more freely than in recent weeks because the Magpies did the same.

Van Gaal said: “Newcastle was attacking. They wanted to attack, and that is the difference. I am saying that all the time, but you are doubting my words and my vision.

“When you see two teams who want to attack, you see a game like this.”

United led 2–0 and 3–2 on Tyneside as Wayne Rooney claimed his 10th and 11th goals of the season either side of Jesse Lingard’s 37th–minute strike.

Georginio Wijnaldum had kept the home side in it at 2–1 and Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled from the penalty spot after 67 minutes, before Rooney and Newcastle full–back Paul Dummett both scored inside a riotous final 11 minutes.



Manchester City, third in the table three points behind leaders Arsenal, play host to Everton tonight in what could prove a pivotal night in the title race.