Solskjaer seeks rapid end to United goal drought

STRIKER Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has acknowledged Manchester United need to sort out their goal-scoring problems quickly.

United netted 87 goals in the Premiership last season but have netted just five times in six games to date.

And the Norwegian said: "We know we've got to sort it out now. Last year we took too long before we sorted things out."

Solskjaer and strike partner Ruud van Nistelrooy have each scored once in the league this season with the latter's goal coming from the penalty spot.

Solskjaer believes over-elaboration could be the reason for United's poor form in front of goal this season.

"When we perform, dig in and stay together as a team we're the best in England but at the moment it is not happening in front of goal.

"Injuries are not an excuse. Our midfielders are injured now and it's not good when injuries all come in the same area but we've got a big enough squad to cope.

"We just have to focus on what we're doing. We're not really concentrating on what others are saying. We know we have to stay together and listen to the manager.

"But sometimes we try to play too much. We all want to score nice goals but sometimes we have to be more direct getting on the end of crosses and going back to basics.''

Sir Alex Ferguson's men were beaten for the second time in four days at Leeds on Saturday.

"It's hard to say what went wrong there," said Solskjaer. "We dominated the first half and that's the time to score goals, to kill the game. Defensively we were perfect. We had two or three very good chances but we just want one to go in off someone's backside. That's what we need."

Solskjaer is van Nistelrooy's strike partner this season, while at the start of 2001-02 he was battling with Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke for the right.

But the Norwegian believes the current United duo will deliver the goals in the near future.

"I've seen a lot of players struggling but I don't worry about it because I know the goals will flow and I don't think Ruud's worried either," he told MUTV.

Earlier, van Nistelrooy insisted he is not "panicking" about his lean spell in front of goal.

"These things happen to strikers. There will be times like last year when you score every game and then periods when you don't score.

"I am doing everything I can every game to change things and score and there will be a day when it will be all okay again."