Fletcher Demands Better

Darren Fletcher was delighted to help United to victory with a goal against Queens Park Rangers, but says it’s important the Reds improve and go on a winning run.

Fletcher, in his first Barclays Premier League start in more than a year, headed Sir Alex’s men into the lead after Jonny Evans had cancelled out QPR’s shock opener.

But it was that concession at the start of the second period that annoyed Fletcher, who admits the United players are rankled by the growing number of times opposition teams score first.

“We're very frustrated,” he told MUTV. “It shouldn't take going a goal behind for us to start playing.

“The only positive thing we can take from it is that every time we do it we seem to respond. But we can't keep making a habit of it.”

Indeed, United have conceded first in 13 of 20 fixtures this season, including the last five.

“We want to go on a run of winning games now and not keep conceding first,” Fletcher said. “After the defeat at Norwich and at Galatasaray it was important we got a win today.

“Hopefully now we can kick on and see an improvement in our performances.”

Fletcher’s goal, a bullet header direct from a corner, was his first since November 2011. But the midfielder claims he thought nothing of personal glory when the ball nestled in the back of the net.

“The biggest thing it meant was that it put us in the lead,” he said. “It didn't mean anything personal to me – it got us back in the game.

“It's great to be back and to score goals but it has to be in winning teams. That's what made today special. It wasn't great to go a goal down in my first league game back. I was thinking: 'Here we go'.

“But the lads always respond and the most pleasing thing for me about my goal was that it put us 2-1 up.

“You have to give credit to QPR. They made it very difficult. Their strikers dropped onto me and Paul Scholes and then we had two banks of four to break down in front of us.

“At times we could have played a bit quicker and took a few more risks with our passes. There's a risk that you'll give it away but you have to do that if you want to break through. They were very resillient but we really lifted the pace of the game once we went a goal down.

“It was an important win, especially with Manchester City and Chelsea playing tomorrow.”