Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that his side could have done better to convert some of their chances against Stoke City, but was unwilling to single out any players for criticism.

The Portuguese, who has not been afraid to point the finger of blame in the past, saw his side drop two more points in the Premier League title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the Potters.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a big opportunity early on, while Paul Pogba was also guilty of squandering chances from close range at Old Trafford, though Mourinho believes that opposition goalkeeper Lee Grant deserves praise for his part in earning Stoke a point.

"I never criticise my players for missing chances. The goalkeeper is the man of the match, deservedly, and the post too," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"We had some open chances where we could do better. I can be critical of the attitude or some naive mistakes sometimes, but not of the chances. We should be with a fat result at this moment, not just three points."

United head into the two-week international break down in sixth place in the Premier League table, with 13 points accrued from the first 21 on offer this term.