• Premier League

Moyes laments 'mental softness' at United

ESPN staff
February 9, 2014
Softness, arrogance and complacency

David Moyes has admitted the 2-2 draw to Fulham was his lowest point as Manchester United manager.

He accused his players of being "mentally soft" after Fulham snatched a point in injury time during Sunday's draw at Old Trafford.

Darren Bent's header salvaged the draw for struggling Fulham, who had taken the lead through Steve Sidwell in the 19th minute.

United put in cross after cross but were left frustrated until they struck twice in two late second-half minutes through Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick - but then Bent scored with seconds to go.

And Moyes admitted he could not have predicted United's struggles, saying: "Probably not. It's been a bit like that this season but today was as bad as it gets."

"We just needed to keep concentrating and see the game out," said Moyes. "You could argue that maybe it was mental softness that we didn't get the job done. I would agree with that.

"It was a game we should have easily seen out. There was no reason not to see it out, it was comfortable. You couldn't say we were ever under real pressure.

"I don't know if we could have done an awful lot more, maybe defended a bit better a couple of times and taken a few more of the chances we made, but we completely dominated the game and should have won comfortably."

Moyes was adamant though that United deserved all three points from the match.

"We went out and tried to win. We crossed it, passed and tried to get through but we didn't quite have the finishing touches,'' Moyes told Sky Sports.

"If we had got a goal early on it would have completely altered the game. The more we went to score, they had a couple of chances and one they went to score from.

"We deserved to be in front. Quite often at Old Trafford, we lose a goal and end up chasing the game. We deserved to win the game and three points, but you don't always get what you deserve.

"We kept knocking at the door, but it wasn't enough.''

The draw leaves United nine points adrift of Liverpool in fourth place and 15 behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

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