Manchester United must start scoring the first goal, admits Rooney

Manchester United must start scoring first, admits Rooney

Nov 26, 2012 9:25:00 AM

The Red Devils fell behind for the fifth consecutive game against QPR and the England striker has recognised that the league leaders must improve in the first half of matches

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has acknowledged that the Red Devils must stop conceding the first goal after they fell behind against QPR before securing a 3-1 victory.

The league leaders have gone behind in five consecutive matches in all competitions, suffering defeats to Norwich City and Galatasaray as a result.

Jamie Mackie's opening goal at Old Trafford was overturned in a seven-minute spell in which Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Chicharito found the net to peg back the relegation-threatened side.

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"I don't know why [we concede the first goal] it is but it's happening too many times," Rooney told reporters. "We need to just go out now and try to get the early goal. As soon as we get a goal, the team settles down and the game settles.

"We tend to take control of the game. But more often than not we've conceded first and made it hard for ourselves to try to get back in the game then go on and win it."

Fletcher, meanwhile, thought that United had not taken enough chances in order to break through the QPR rearguard in the first half, adding: "There's a risk that you'll give it away but you have to do that if you want to break through," the midfielder added.