"We were camped in their box for a lot of the second half and had some really good chances. We only needed to take one to get us back in the game and it might have changed from then on; it was just one of those days when it wouldn't go in," Sir Alex told MUTV.

"I think we deserved something from our second half showing. There wasn't much in it in the first half and there were chances at both ends. They probably just shaded it and deserved the goal. But we pummelled them after half-time and had a lot of good opportunities but didn't take any.

"Their defenders worked their socks off and they deserve full credit for that," he added. "They were closing down players, blocking shots... doing everything they could. It was a big strong effort by them."

The defeat was United's fourth of the campaign and a particularly frustrating one after the Reds had seen Chelsea drop two points earlier in the day at home to Everton.

"It's not an easy league. Teams will drop points - that's a fact of life," admitted the boss. "As I say time and time again though, if we're within touching distance ofthe leaders come January then we're in with a great chance.

"Hopefully we can put the Villa game behind us and get the result we need on Tuesday against Wolves."