Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata says they must bounce back after defeat to Southampton.

The loss brought the team's two-month long undefeated sequence to an end and cast fresh doubt on United's Champions League qualification hopes.

"It's not easy for me to write here today, right after this Sunday's defeat," the United midfielder wrote on his blog after the 1-0 defeat.

"It was not the best game to watch. They were well positioned and defended very well, so creating chances was difficult. And yet we were in control of the game.

"The first half was not very good; the game was quite slow, too tactical. But we kept the ball most of the time, trying to find spaces towards the goal.

"They scored after the break in one of the few chances they had, after a ball that rebounded on the post, and then we tried everything to tie the game. I think we deserved that goal. I don't think we deserved to lose.

"What matters now is to win our next game, regardless of who scores.

"We visit QPR and it's going to be a tough one. They are in need of points and we know we must go back to a good streak of wins."