Lingard blames complacency for Man Utd woes against mid-table teams

Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard believes the Red Devils' struggles this season are due to complacency against mid-table teams.

United have beaten Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham and Leicester City, and drawn with Premier League leaders Liverpool and Arsenal this term, however, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men still languish in eighth position.

The struggling giants have flourished with their counter-attacking pace but have come unstuck against teams defending deep – beaten by Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Watford.

United have also been held by Wolves, Southampton, Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Everton, leading Lingard to question the club's mindset ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle.

"It's strange," Lingard told the Daily Mail. "Maybe it's a mindset thing. Maybe it's our mentality going into the match thinking we've already won the game.

"If we keep the consistency and mentality we had against City and Tottenham, I don't see why we can't win every game.

"It seems like our mentality changes. To keep that consistency throughout the rest of the season when we come against the mid-table teams, we need to have the same mentality that we did going into the City and Tottenham game. 

"When we start with energy and on the front foot, we'll cause team problems all day long."

United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Thursday, seven points adrift of Chelsea – who occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot.

Solskjaer's United are also 24 points behind bitter rivals Liverpool after 18 matches in the Premier League.