Dalot: We are improving

A single goal from former Red Anthony Elanga in the fifth minute proved to be the decider despite a spirited United performance, which Dalot felt was enough for us to garner something from The City Ground.

Speaking to MUTV after the final whistle, the Portugal international said: "I think we did enough to win the game. We had very good moments, created a lot of chances, and I think enough chances to win this game.

"It’s the price sometimes you pay in this type of level, in these types of competitions. Sometimes a little distraction, lack of focus, can be really decisive, and today it was."

Given the strong performance, our no.20 rightly feels there are some positives to take away from the Reds' trip to Nottingham.

"Overall, I think we are improving," he continued. "We are playing better, controlling more games in possession and without possession, so [that is] something positive that we can take for the coming games.

"But in the end, we need to start being more consistent in terms of results and winning more games."

United must quickly look ahead to Sunday's clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford and Dalot echoed that same sentiment.

"If we want to be competitive in the future, we have to start behaving like this and we have to perform like this," he added.

"But these little bits will have to come first if you want to compete for the Premier League and the biggest titles, we have to start creating these habits and they try to be consistent on that, and then I think the results will come by themselves.

"We still have to suffer a little bit, but in terms of getting out of this situation and trying to improve, I think we are on the right track.”

Although Dalot and his team-mates clearly have an eye on the long-term, there is the small matter of our crosstown rivals to come in M16 this weekend.

"I don’t think there’s much to say," the 26-year-old commented. "It's a derby.

"We have to win it, play with our fans. I think the atmosphere will be unbelievable."