Michael Carrick frustrated with draw at Leeds, but Manchester United took a small step forward

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick gave his reaction to their draw at Leeds on Sunday in a huge rivalry clash, and generally speaking he wasn't delighted with a third-straight 1-1 draw.

But he did enjoy his players, who were deployed in fluid 3-4-3 system, digging deep to hold on to the point at a tough moment for them.

United are now without a win in their last five league games, but they've only just twice in their opening seven games of the season and have seven points on the board.

It's been a really tough week for United on and off the pitch but they avoided defeat at their fierce rivals Leeds. That shouldn't be overlooked.

Small step forward for Man United after tough week

Carrick acknowledged that United lacked quality on the ball, and that was something Harry Maguire also pointed out as being a problem.

But United, generally, looked more solid in midfield and defense and this point at a tough away ground against a rival is a step in the right direction.

After a really tough week where they were outplayed at home by Spurs in a 1-1 draw and were well beaten away at Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League with Lisandro Martinez being fined for his comments hitting out at the club hierarchy, United's players showed fight and togetherness at Leeds.

That is a good starting point as Carrick's tactical switch to a back five out of possession with wing backs worked well against Leeds and his players stuck to the plan. With some better finishing in the final third United could have won this game.

Going forward they have to clean up making errors in conceding from set pieces, but if they can do that and be a bit braver on the ball, especially in the final third, United aren't too far away from being able to grind out some more wins.

Given their lack of confidence and the struggles they've had so far this season, it's all about baby steps forward right now.

On if it was a fair result : "Yeah, it was a tough game for both teams I think. It was one of those challenging games. You could feel there was an edge to the game. It was a good game," Carrick told BBC Match of the Day. "Maybe if you talk about top quality, maybe it wasn't top, top quality I think we are capable of playing. I think in little moments and spells we played some really good football. It's a tough place to come. With the results we've had we weren't quite flowing but there's enough in there to take from it. We had to work for it. I was proud of the boys for the way they went about it in difficult circumstances. A point is a point. It is a step forward for us."

On the result being more about effort and application : "It's a bit more than just effort and that. It is the way you go about it. The plan. The responsibilities. The roles. I thought the boys took that responsibility on really well for the most part and to go a goal up and concede in that way is disappointing. I thought we defended pretty well as a team for all the game. Long throws, corners, they are a threat. It was a tense game, a tight game. It was kind of one of those games which could have gone both ways so we take the point and move on."

On the noise around the club this week, did the players have any questions to answer and did they do that : "They didn't from me. I suppose you're looking at the togetherness, the spirit, the unit. I don't doubt that within the group and they've shown that even more so in the last two days. They showed it today. It is clear they want to do well. They are a really tight group. Things haven't gone our way. Some of it is to do with us. Some of it is a bit here and there and luck in moments. The way that we went about it today gives me a lot of belief in us moving forward that we are a strong group and if we build on that with the quality we have got in the group already we will win football matches."