Louis van Gaal: "Everton deserved to win"

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has conceded that Everton were worthy winners in this afternoon's Premier League meeting, admitting that his side lacked the fighting spirit required.

The Red Devils, who fell to a 1-0 reverse at champions-elect Chelsea last weekend, have now endured back-to-back league defeats for the first time under the Dutchman.

Goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas helped the Toffees on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory, which Van Gaal admits was a just result.

"We have always had more fighting spirit on the pitch and I think that this is the first match that the other team have shown more of that than us," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"We created five chances in the first half - Marouane Fellaini had to score - that is more than Everton. In the second half they scored on the counter and we had to play against a defensive side.

"This was the first match when I saw a team that was more motivated and aggressive than us. It is not good, but we are human beings. We have to see that our opponents will defend more and cope with that as a club. Everton deserved to win - when the result is fair, you can live with it."

United remain in fourth place in the Premier League table following this latest setback, seven points clear of Liverpool who are chasing down the last remaining Champions League berth.