Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said that his side's performance against Newcastle United was one of their best since his arrival at Old Trafford.

United were held to a goalless draw by the Magpies as they dropped points for the first time this season, but Van Gaal has insisted that his team were unlucky not to secure the win.

The Dutchman is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "We can be satisfied with the performance but not with the result. We were unlucky.

"We did not make the right choices in the final third but we played fantastic as a team. I like these kind of games when we work like this, but not this result.

"The performance was one of the best in my period but we don't reward ourselves and there was only one club that wanted to win and that was us."

United have moved one point clear at the top of the standings ahead of Saturday afternoon's fixtures.