Neville: Carrick has got to stop defending the players

Man Utd came from behind to draw 1-1 at Fulham on Super Sunday; Lisandro Martinez scored an own goal before Matheus Cuhna equalised; however, the team's performance was once again called into question, with Gary Neville saying the team were a 'genuine disgrace'

Gary Neville has urged Michael Carrick to stop defending Manchester United players after another troubling performance in their draw at Fulham.

While on Sky Sports co-commentary, Neville described their start to the second half at Craven Cottage as "the worst 15 minutes I have ever seen Manchester United play".

In that time, Carrick's side conceded a horror own goal from Lisandro Martinez, before Matheus Cunha's late deflected strike avoided a third straight league defeat for Man Utd.

The 1-1 draw comes off the back of losses to Manchester City last Sunday and a capitulation in the Carabao Cup third round against Brighton - although there was a lack of urgency and energy at times from Man Utd in west London.

It led to Neville saying afterwards that the team lacked effort and they must start working harder for Carrick.

He said: "I've never seen a Man Utd team walk out of possession as much as that. Michael has just said there was nothing wrong with the team's energy.

"Michael has got to stop defending them. I get why he's defending them; he's loyal, he wants his players to work for him, and obviously there's a long way to go in the season.

"Both teams were the same. I called them mannequins. I've never seen a United team walk around as much as that. No alertness, no aliveness. No 'on your toes'. You should always be on your toes.

"Always shifting up two or three yards. They were just walking when Fulham were in possession. Fulham had 46 passes in the first couple of minutes to get their first shot.

"I don't know how many over-10-pass sequences Fulham had in that game, but the international break has come at a great time. There needs to be a rebalance.

"Very rarely do I say a team doesn't work hard or is lacking in effort. That's the ultimate criticism you can give a group of players.

"I'm always very careful to say that, but in those first 15 minutes of that second half, Man Utd and generally for the first 60 minutes, were a genuine disgrace. Nowhere near good enough without the ball.

"Michael is of course saying something different to us than he is saying privately. That would've really worried me. People will ask questions about him, but he knew that when he took the job.