Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher insists Red Devils have made a 'decent start' to the season regardless of heavy derby defeat

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has insisted his side have made a solid start to the campaign and that the Red Devils will now be looking to kick on.

The 27-year-old is looking to progress into the next round of the Champions League but the Red Devils will need to avoid defeat against Basel in December or they will be eliminated.

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The Scot is also looking to be ahead of rivals Manchester City in the Premier League but United sit five points behind their rivals in second place at present.

Apart from a couple of draws in the Champions League and the 6-1 derby defeat to City, Fletcher is adamant that it has been a decent start by all accounts.

He told reporters: "People can look at the season and criticise and maybe we are not in the position we would like.

"Obviously, we would like to be top of the league and leading our Champions League group. But we have still had a decent start to the season.

"We had one disastrous result in the league against Manchester City and a couple of draws in the Champions League but overall it has been a solid start.

"As the season goes on, we will be looking to progress, as we always do."

Reflecting on United's form since the derby defeat, Fletcher continued: "We knew we were a little bit too open.

"We were conceding a lot of chances and that ultimately came to a head against Manchester City. Recently we have gone on a run where we have not conceded a goal in five matches.

"People were criticising the performance levels but it was the natural reaction to losing six goals. We are not going to play well all the time. But we have great quality in this squad.

"The manager believes in the players and we believe in ourselves."

Fletcher knows that there is nothing United can do about other teams' results and that looking after number one is key to the rest of the season.

He added: "The only results we can control are our own. But we know if we play to the level we are capable of then we can win matches and put Manchester City under pressure.

"We need to respond as quickly as possible by trying to get a win against Newcastle [at the weekend]."