Ashley Young’s last-gasp goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United outfit against Newcastle on Wednesday, with United maintaining their two-point advantage on fifth-placed Liverpool.

Wayne Rooney insists that Manchester United cannot afford to look past their game at Newcastle United tonight after boss Louis van Gaal admitted they were in a ‘rat race’ for Champions League qualification.

Despite a fast start to Premier League life following his £59million move to Old Trafford from Spanish giants Real Madrid, Argentine Angel Di Maria has struggled to adapt to the physical demands of English football.

With a manager as confident in his own abilities as he is in his team’s potential, everything seems rosy at Old Trafford though in reality Man Utd are close to boring people to tears.

United were beaten 2-1 in south Wales on Saturday, with goals from Ki Sung-yeung and Bafetimbi Gomis cancelling out Ander Herrera’s earlier strike.

Fellaini was up to his goalscoring tricks again last night in the win over their League One opponents Preston, providing a dream target for any winger as Antonio Valencia’s cross found the tall midfielder-come-striker, who put the visitors in front with his right boot.

Scott Laird’s strike put the League One side ahead early in the second half at Deepdale before United fought back through Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini, Wayne Rooney adding a third from the spot.

Manchester United great Paul Scholes said what was on everyone’s minds however when he called watching his old club ‘miserable’ in his newspaper column on Friday.

Goals from Chris Smalling and Robin van Persie were enough to see off Burnley, who had levelled through in-form striker Danny Ings.

Fellaini’s introduction after 72 minutes – with United trailing 1-0 to West Ham on Sunday – proved too much for the London club’s defence as the midfielder played a key part in the build up to Daley Blind’s injury-time equaliser.

Van Gaal was among those who paid their respects to the Busby Babes on Friday, the 57th anniversary of Manchester United’s darkest day, as the third-placed club prepared to take on West Ham on Sunday.