Throwing away points will cost United title, warns Fletcher

DARREN FLETCHER accepts Manchester United have lessons to learn about their away performances so far this season if they are to avoid serious damage to their Premier League title challenge.

Having spent so many seasons dishing out last-gasp defeats to their rivals, Alex Ferguson’s side received a taste of their own medicine as Everton fought back from 3-1 down to snatch a draw, with two goals in injury time at Goodison Park.

In their only other away game so far this season, United saw Fulham’s Brede Hangeland earn a 2-2 draw with an 89th-minute header – moments after Nani had missed a penalty.

Those four points are the difference between the third-placed Red Devils and leaders and defending champions Chelsea, who are the only side with a 100% record.

It may only be early days but Fletcher knows allowing winning positions to slip will become costly.

“We should have learned from the Fulham game and we didn’t,” said the Scotland international, who got his side back into the game with a close-range volley just before half-time to cancel out Steven Pienaar’s opener.

“We really have to learn from this game if we want to take it forward this season and win the league. We can’t afford to throw away points as we have done in the two away games so far.

“These are moments you can look back on and say ‘That should have been three points’ but it is a long season and there are many twists and turns to come.”

Fletcher was keen to stress that the recent late lapses should not be viewed as a sign of weakness.

However, he admits if United continue to give teams hope when there should be none, they will find themselves under pressure more regularly.

“It just shows you that you have to play right to the final whistle because teams don’t give up, especially at home,” added the 26-year-old.

“The more confidence you give to teams, showing them things like that, the more confidence they will get to say ‘Keep on right till the end against Manchester United’.

“We need to put that to bed and get away from it as soon as possible. There is no vulnerability, it is simple mistakes we need to eradicate quickly.”

Without Wayne Rooney, left out of the squad entirely after a week of lurid allegations about his private life, United began poorly at Goodison.

Everton should have been well ahead before Patrice Evra’s failed overhead-kick clearance allowed Mikel Arteta race through on goal and Pienaar convert his rebounded shot.

United clicked into gear just before the interval when Fletcher nipped in at the near post to volley home Nani’s cross and within three minutes of the second half kicking off Nemanja Vidic had headed them in front.

When Dimitar Berbatov fired home with 24 minutes to go, the match looked over until chaos broke out in the United box in added time, Tim Cahill powering in a header before Arteta’s deflected strike earned a point. “Once you give a team like Everton a bit of hope with the second goal, it lifted the whole place,” said Fletcher.

“The manager was really disappointed and made it clear in no uncertain terms what is expected at this club.”