Ruud: We may need to take direct route

RUUD van Nistelrooy believes Manchester United may have to take the direct route if they are to overcome the safety-first tactics of Barclays Premiership opponents this term.

After struggling to overcome Aston Villa in their first home game of the season, United were stopped in their tracks completely by improving Manchester City on Saturday.

Like Villa before them, Stuart Pearce’s side built their performance around secure defending, refusing to commit too many men forward even after Van Nistelrooy had put the hosts in front just before the break.