Youri Tielemans expressed frustration with Manchester United’s meek performance in the controversial derby defeat to 10-man Manchester City.

Michael Carrick’s men have made a sluggish start to the Premier League season, with a humiliating defeat at Hull, victory against Ipswich and late draw at Everton followed by derby disappointment on Sunday.

Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes midway through the first half but United failed to take advantage, with Erling Haaland’s contentious effort eventually sealing a 1-0 win for City.

Pro Ref, the refereeing body, would contact the Red Devils that evening to acknowledge an “error in judgement” in overturning the offside call rather than sending referee Michael Oliver for an on-field review given Enzo Fernandez was interfering with play.

United’s fury at the officiating for that decision is as clear as it is understandable, but summer signing Tielemans admits they were not good enough regardless of that moment.

“It’s disappointing, so everyone is disappointed and frustrated because we know we can play so much better,” the Belgium international told MUTV.

“We want to do things well and today it didn’t happen like we wanted.”

Marcus Rashford hit the woodwork with a free-kick and Kobbie Mainoo hit a post as United tried to take the lead, but City managed the game impressively for the most part after Foden’s sending off.

“We didn’t use it,” Tielemans said. “We didn’t use the right spaces, we made mistakes in our passes, maybe rushed it a little bit too much.

“We didn’t make the right last passes in the final third to create enough chances to score, so, yeah, it was tough.”

It is a gut punch that leaves United with just four points from four matches of a Premier League season that continues at Fulham on Sunday in the final match before a three-week international break.

Before that comes Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third round meeting with Brighton at Old Trafford, where Carrick and his charges desperately need a positive outcome to lift the mood.

United midfielder Tielemans said: “The process is trying to get our heads together and react in the next game. That’s the only thing that we can do, that we can control.

“Analyse this game, what didn’t happen, do better in the next one.”