Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has admitted that the number of shots the Red Devils are conceding on their own goal is 'concerning'.
The 20-time English champions saw 12 shots being taken on their goal in the opening 45 minutes of Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
As a result, at the interval of that match, Man United had conceded 565 shots in the Premier League this season, which is their most in a single campaign since 2003-04.
That number grew in the second period, although Erik ten Hag's side managed to fight back to secure a share of the spoils, with Bruno Fernandes completing his brace by netting a penalty.
Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert were on the scoresheet for the Cherries in the opening half, and it was another worrying performance from Man United from a defensive point of view.
Man United have now conceded 5⃣6⃣5⃣ shots in the Premier League this season, their most in a single campaign since 2003/04.
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Dalot insists Man United "have to improve"
"It's been one of our concerns, maybe [we need to] try to be more compact as a team - don't try to make the gap between defenders and midfield too big," he told Sky Sports News after the match.
"Sometimes it is, and they counter on the counter-attack. It's something we have to improve because it's been nowhere near good enough for the level of this club.
"We've been showing belief through the season, coming back from down moments. Too many this season. We have to control more and have the game under control, we lose it too many times. That's the aim for the next couple of games.
"It's been happening in the last couple of games (individual mistakes), we don't look to who has done it but we know it can happen at this level because they are clinical enough to score if we make mistakes. It's something we have to look for and try not to do.
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"It's part of life to make mistakes. It's about reacting well the next game and the next few minutes to try to do better. That's what we have to overcome. We have to take responsibility but try not to do it for the next games and that's the challenge."
Man United have now conceded 48 times in the Premier League this season, and they are down in seventh position in the table, 10 points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
Defenders Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are all currently on the sidelines, meaning that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was again required at left-back on Saturday, while Willy Kambwala featured alongside Harry Maguire in the middle.
The Red Devils will now switch their attention to the FA Cup, preparing to take on Coventry City in the semi-finals of the competition next weekend.
Man United have six Premier League games left of this season, meanwhile, and their next two are both at home to the bottom two Sheffield United and Burnley.
Matt Law
