Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United: LVG admits Eagles were the better team as goal-scoring drought continues

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that his team's lack of goals in their last three matches is a cause for major concern after their 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday (31 October). This was the Red Devils' third successive stalemate following their games against Manchester City in the Premier League on 25 October and Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup four days later.

The 20-times English champions failed to create clear goal scoring chances throughout the entire 90 minutes with Wayne Rooney's first half free kick being the only shot they had on target. The Dutch manager cut a frustrated figure, while admitting that his team failed to create chances, and said that the Eagles were the better team on the day.

Ander Herrera had a great chance at the stroke of half time, but the Spanish midfielder dragged his shot wide. Van Gaal later revealed that he had a word with the former Athletic Bilbao star, but failed to get a response as to why he missed the opportunity to score.

"Of course it is a concern. I said that after the match against Middlesbrough, when we created a lot of chances. You have to finish the chances," Van Gaal told United's official site.

"In the last minute of the first half, Ander Herrera could have finished it but he didn't. I asked him and he didn't know why, so that is a pity," the Dutchman added.

"But I can't complain about the result because I don't think we were the better team today."

United have now dropped to fourth place in the Premier League, four points behind Manchester City and Arsenal, who lead the way, and one point behind high-flying Leicester City, who continued their good form with a win over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday.