• Premier League

United's points tally is inadequate, says Carrick

Michael Carrick admits Manchester United's points total is inadequate after they made their worst start to a season for 28 years.

Defeat to Manchester City on Sunday left United with only 13 points from their first 10 games, their lowest tally at this stage of a campaign since 1986-87, when Ron Atkinson was sacked and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.

While they also made a slow start under David Moyes last season, they had taken four more points from their first 10 matches. This time around the club are one of only four in the Premier League without an away win and are level on points with Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion. They trail league leaders Chelsea by 13 points.

"Our points tally is very disappointing because it is nowhere near good enough for us. But at the same time there are signs that we believe things can come good," he told the Manchester Evening News after Sunday's 1-0 derby disappointment.

'Stupid' Smalling

Chris Smalling picks up his first of two yellow cards © Getty Images

• Chris Smalling was "humble" about his errors in getting two yellow cards during the first-half of Manchester United's 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday but Louis van Gaal still branded the second of them "stupid".
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"We have shown some good signs. We are disappointed after today but not disheartened."

Carrick underwent ankle surgery in July and made his first appearance of both the season and manager Louis van Gaal's reign against City.

He came on as a central defender in a new-look partnership with 19-year-old Paddy McNair after Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo, who started, were sent off and stretchered off respectively.

Carrick added: "Playing myself and young Paddy together at centre-half was a bit of a test in the second-half but we dealt with it well. The longer it went I thought we could nick one.

"It was my first game for six months so it was a bit of a test but I enjoyed it. It was nice to be back. I have certainly missed it."

Captain Wayne Rooney felt United were on top for long periods of the game and was pleased with their response after seeing Smalling sent off.

He told MUTV: "I felt for long periods of the game we were the better team. We took control of the game with 10 men and created the better chances.

"We were unfortunate not to get anything out of the match and we're disappointed to leave with no points after a great effort."

Smalling was dismissed for collecting two cautions in the space of nine minutes and Rooney added: "Chris is disappointed. It's tough when you get sent off, especially in a derby, and with such a long time to go in the game it made it difficult for the rest of us to hold on. I'm sure Chris will learn from that."

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