Michael Carrick believes Sunday's draw with Leeds United was a step in the right direction for Manchester United, even with their winless streak now standing at six matches.
Carrick calls Leeds draw a step in the right direction for Man Utd
Manchester United's slow start to the season continued as they drew 1-1 with Leeds United, but Michael Carrick saw plenty of positives.
Bryan Mbeumo's 35th-minute opener put Carrick's men in front against their old rivals at Elland Road, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised early in the second half.
Leeds had the better chances to take all three points in the second period, finishing with 1.44 expected goals (xG) to the Red Devils' 0.91, but they could not find a second goal.
United are now winless in six games in all competitions, since a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah early in September, while they have not tasted victory in five Premier League matches.
Their only victory in the league this season was at home to Ipswich Town (D4 L2), with this the fewest wins they have managed after seven games of a top-flight season since 1986-87, when they also had one victory after seven matches in the old First Division.
But when asked if the performance represented a step in the right direction for United, Carrick told Sky Sports: "It definitely was. If there's any weakness, it gets found out today.
"I could feel before the game that the players were ready for it. It wasn't perfect. Our confidence isn't sky-high, but the players were trying to do the right things.
"In moments, we looked really good. We defended really well as a team. Credit to Daniel [Farke] and his team. They are a very good side.
"They test you and ask a lot of questions. If you are not ready for it, you get found out, and I thought the boys stood up to it."
Sunday's game marked the 19th instance of Man Utd scoring first in a Premier League game against Leeds but just the third occasion on which they were pegged back and failed to win, along with two more 1-1 draws in March 2001 and February 2004.
And centre-back Harry Maguire offered a more negative assessment of their display, lamenting their struggles when attempting to play through Leeds' midfield.
"We worked on it this week. We wanted to match them up without the ball and go quite aggressive," Maguire said. "It was a back five without the ball and a four with the ball.
"We knew we could get a lot of joy in the middle of the pitch with them only playing two in there.
"That's probably the area of the game where we could've done more. We could've been a bit braver with the ball and taken the ball under pressure.
"But we're in a circumstance where we are not as brave as we should be, and we have to get that back because to win games for Man Utd we have to have that bravery and composure."
Man Utd visit Cesc Fabregas' Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, with their next Premier League game pitting them against Bournemouth four days later.
