Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand accepts they've struggled for a winning consistency this season.

Ferdinand said: "We had about a five-week period where we kept winning 1-0 a lot.

"If that's the way we need to do it this season, then we need to start doing it very soon. Results are important and we must start winning matches. We need to start grinding out victories."

United have won only one of their last three top-flight games.

They lost 2-1 at Arsenal three weeks ago and then thumped new-boys Stoke 5-0, only to draw 0-0 at Aston Villa last Saturday.

Ferdinand, 30, said: "Results-wise it hasn't come together yet.

"Performance-wise, against Villa, I thought if anyone was going to win it, it was going to be us.

"And, against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, when we also drew 0-0, we played some decent stuff.

"We hit the bar and we were the team more likely to score."