Erik ten Hag addresses worrying Man Utd stat and makes 'fortress' vow after Crystal Palace defeat

Erik ten Hag refused to make any excuses after Manchester United slipped to their worst start to a season since 1989. 

The 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford means United have lost four of their opening seven games with boos greeting the final whistle - and not for the first time this season. 

Ten Hag insists he knows where the supporters are coming from as a bid to make it three wins in a row and really get the season up and running fell flat. 

“I understand (the fans), when we play home or away and we play Crystal Palace we have to win, with all respect,” the Dutchman said. 

“I know every game in the Premier League is difficult and you have to play your best, but I understand fans are expecting a win and we didn’t win and we lost.

“Of course it is a concern, we have to be more consistent, this is not the demand for Man United. The demand is we get a row of wins and get into a series. We have to do better than now.

“I can give you reasons but you will explain it as an excuse and there are no excuses, we have to win.”

After Brighton picked up three points at Old Trafford and Nottingham Forest and Wolves did more than enough to take something from their trips to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ despite defeat, United are not the force on home soil they once were. 

Ten Hag concedes that it is something that has to change quickly. 

“We have to show it in our body language that Old Trafford is a fortress and you can’t get anything here and the only way you can go away is with a loss,” he said. “We have to do better here.”