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Marcus Rashford insists Man United will not be intimidated by City

The forward scored in the win over Newcastle which kept United 10 points behind the league leaders.

Marcus Rashford says second-placed Manchester United are just focused on putting their best foot amid Premier League leaders Manchester City's record-breaking run.

Pep Guardiola's relentless side knocked the Red Devils off top spot on January 26 and have gone on to build a 10-point lead at the summit.

City maintained their momentum with victory over Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, while United's 3-1 win against Newcastle prevented them from losing further ground.

It was just a second success in six Premier League matches for boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who spoke of the need to keep plugging away and remain focused on what his team can control, comments echoed by forward Rashford.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves and our performances," he said.

"I think we've said all season that we're a team that's still improving, learning lessons about ourselves every game.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep giving the best version of us. Ultimately that's going to make us win the games."

Second half goals from Daniel James and Bruno Fernandes wrapped up victory at an empty Old Trafford, where Allan Saint-Maximin cancelled out Rashford's impressive 18th goal of the season.

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring Manchester United's opener on Sunday
Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring Manchester United's opener on Sunday (Phil Noble/PA)

Asked if he is looking to surpass last season's 22-goal haul, he said: "Yeah, definitely. I think year-on-year I try and kick on and just improve on the previous year.

"It's something that I don't put too much emphasis on, but if it happens I'll be happy.

"The most important thing is just getting the result that we got today, the win.

"Now it's just about recovery and get ready for the next Europa League game."

Rashford made his name in the Europa League, having scored twice on his debut after being thrust into the starting line-up against FC Midtjylland in February 2016.

Shola Shoretire became the latest homegrown talent to make his United debut on Sunday, with the 17-year-old becoming the club's seventh youngest player after coming off the bench against hometown team Newcastle.

"He's even younger than what I was! It's a top moment," Rashford said.

"I think when they're young players and they make their debut eventually, they actually kick on from that and hopefully we see the same from him and see him out on the pitch many more times.

"He's a player that has a lot of quality and, the more often he trains with us and plays with us, he's going to feel relaxed and then he can show his quality on the pitch.

"I think in the academy they always emphasise following in footsteps.

"It's something that I always took great acknowledgment of when I was a young player wanting to get into the first team, follow in the footsteps of other attacking players, other academy players that have made the step up into the first team.

"It's just a cycle, really. Hopefully the younger ones that are his age now, they'll see him playing and they'll kick on and then hopefully we'll get more and more of them in."

Allan Saint-Maximin scored a superb leveller for Newcastle at Old Trafford
Allan Saint-Maximin scored a superb leveller for Newcastle at Old Trafford (Stu Forster/PA)

While United look to Thursday's Europa League round-of-32 second leg against Real Sociedad, Newcastle turn their attention to Saturday evening's clash with Wolves.

Fulham's recent resurgence means under-fire Steve Bruce's side are just three points above the relegation zone after the loss at Old Trafford, where an encouraging hour was followed by all too familiar final outcome.

Goalscorer Saint-Maximin said: "We play against one of the best teams in the league and we know every game in the Premier League is difficult.

"We play in Old Trafford against a really good team and we stay in the game in the first half, 1-1. We keep going, run a lot, try to press to make the game difficult for Manchester United. But they score after with James and the penalty, so we're really disappointed."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool33247275314479
2Arsenal341813363293467
3Manchester CityMan City34187966432361
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest33186953391460
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331851062441859
6Chelsea33169858401857
7Aston Villa3416995449557
8Bournemouth3313101052401249
9Fulham33139114845348
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton33121295353048
11Brentford33137135650646
12Crystal Palace341112114347-445
13Everton33814113440-638
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd33108153846-838
15Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33115174861-1338
16Tottenham HotspurSpurs331141861511037
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3399153755-1836
18Ipswich TownIpswich3349203371-3821
19Leicester CityLeicester3346232773-4618
20Southampton3325262478-5411


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