Phil Jones admits Manchester United's players let down Sir Alex Ferguson in defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Jones was facing his former club in a fixture he lost 7-1 with Rovers last term.

"I am gutted," he said. "The manager's birthday as well. We weren't at the races. Too slow, too laboured. Not quick enough. The injuries don't help. But they are no excuse. We were nowhere near good enough."

In fact, Jones felt United had not done themselves any favours by getting back on level terms so quickly.

"That was our downfall, coming back too soon," he said.

"I think we thought we had won it. We got two back, we thought we had won it and we eased off. They punished us. They thoroughly deserved their win. We weren't at the races. It will be a bad New Year's Eve.

"I feel worse than when we got smashed 7-1 last season playing for Blackburn. That puts into perspective how disappointed I am."