Van der Sar demands three points

Edwin van der Sar has warned that Manchester United cannot afford a post-international hangover.

United face Wigan at the weekend and the Dutch goalkeeper, 35, believes Alex Ferguson’s side cannot afford to take anything less than maximum points.

United are top of the Barclays Premiership, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference, after taking 16 points from their opening seven games. They have dropped points only to Arsenal and Reading.

Van der Sar told www.manutd.com: “Last season we lost too many games against smaller teams. We have to make sure it doesn’t happen often.

“Our start [to the season] has been okay but the draw against Reading was not good.”