Football: Fernandes takes aim at United's slow second half, struggles with counters

United led 1-0 at the break thanks to an Anthony Martial strike set up by Fernandes (above), but they lost their way in the second half. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes criticised the team's second half display in Saturday's (Oct 2) 1-1 draw against Everton and said the players needed to start learning the lessons from repeat errors.

United led 1-0 at the break thanks to an Anthony Martial strike set up by Fernandes, but they lost their way in the second half and had to share the points after Andros Townsend's equaliser.

"I thought we played really well first half, created a lot of chances. Second half we slow it down, once again we make that mistake," the Portuguese midfielder told MUTV.

"We have to learn and the time is now. We cannot do it anymore. We did it so many times. We cannot slow it down when we are winning. We have to make it quicker, score another one or two and then after that you can slow it down a little and make them run more."

Fernandes, captaining the side in the absence of Harry Maguire, said another bad habit that needed addressing was conceding from counter-attacks.

Everton's goal came from a break after a United corner taken by Fernandes.

"We should learn because that is not the first time it has happened, we have to do something, change something because something is not working to concede so many counters.

"That is about the players on the pitch doing something, not about someone else. We have to make a foul, stop the game, I have to take a better corner, many, many things have to be better," he said.

United have picked up just one point from their last two home games, with Saturday's draw following last week's loss to Aston Villa and although their 14 points leaves them in the leading pack, Fernandes was not happy with the return.

"It is not good enough, we should have more points, but this is what we have now. We have to look forward now to what we can do until the end of the season," he said.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.