Rooney slams Man Utd defence after conceding 'silly' goals against Newcastle

The Red Devils captain was in fine form at St James's Park, scoring two goals and setting up another, but was disappointed to see his side twice throw away a lead in the 3-3 draw

Wayne Rooney expressed his frustration with the "silly" and "avoidable" goals Manchester United conceded in their 3-3 draw against Newcastle United.

Rooney turned in arguably his best performance of the season at St James's Park, scoring two goals and creating another to twice put Louis van Gaal's side ahead.

But Newcastle battled back from two goals down to level the score at 2-2 and then responded again when the England captain seemed to have won the game late on.

And Rooney feels his side made it easy for their hosts, insisting they should have held out for the three points.

"I think after going 2-0 up we were in control of the game, and then we've let them back into it," Rooney told MUTV. "To then get our third goal and concede again was disappointing from us.

"I think they were silly goals to concede on our behalf and they were avoidable. They have cost us two points so we're disappointed.

"We can't keep going on conceding three goals every game so we have to work on that and create the chances without giving goals away.
 You can score as many goals as you want, but if you keep conceding goals then it's a problem.

"We have to keep trying to get that balance right and keep creating chances, scoring goals and keeping them out."

Rooney admitted that United had been working hard to improve their disappointing goalscoring record, with all five of the sides now above them having found the net at least six more times than the Red Devils.

"I think we're always trying to create chances," he added. "Obviously we know that's our aim, that's what we work on everyday at the training ground.