But United allowed Luton again into the match when Carlton Morris halved the deficit 14 minutes in. The Hatters piled the strain on for the remainder of the primary interval however the Red Devils survived till half time nonetheless in entrance.

After half-time modifications, United had been safer within the second half however they wasted a succession of goalscoring alternatives to increase their benefit. Rashford, Garnacho, Fernandes and Hojlund had been all responsible of losing possibilities to place the sport past the house aspect.

And Ten Hag, talking to Sky Sports, stated post-match: "It could have been an easy game after, say, 10 minutes. In the end it was a difficult game because we didn't take our chances and we allowed them back into it.

"It was an excellent begin however after, Garnacho and Rashy, we had huge possibilities to make it 3-0 and 4-0. We dropped too deep and allowed them to get again into the sport and we did not shut the half-spaces the place they handed the ball in after which our centre-halves have to come back out.

"We allowed them shots and crosses. It got difficult. Second half as well, we didn't take our chances and there were so many big chances. We should've scored. With Bruno, with Garnacho, with Rashford. They were not opportunities, they were 100 per cent chances.

"One has to go in. Then you make your life straightforward. We saved them within the sport. [After going 2-0 up] We misplaced a little bit of focus. Maybe as a result of it was really easy within the first 10 minutes and also you rating twice. With some gamers, they go just a little bit much less.

"You can't afford this, definitely not against a side like Luton Town. I analysed them, when they lost, they only lost twice by two goals difference. You have to be ready, you have to be 100 per cent focused. That was something we lost after 10 minutes."

United in the end held on for an vital three factors to safe a fourth successive Premier League win. Since drawing with Tottenham in mid-January at Old Trafford, the Red Devils have closed the hole on Spurs from eight factors to 3.

Aston Villa at the moment occupy fourth spot and are 5 factors forward of United. They face Spurs at Villa Park on March 10 in a match Ten Hag and his gamers can be maintaining a eager eye on.

Discussing his crew's possibilities of Champions League qualification, the Dutch supervisor continued: "I think we're back in the race and building momentum. We have to keep this going and keep working on our game and build the pressure on them [Spurs].

"We should go sport to sport, each sport for us is a closing to get nearer to them and make extra distance to the groups who're behind us."

And explaining the choice to sub off Casemiro and Harry Maguire at half-time, with the duo both on a yellow card, Ten Hag continued: "I noticed the response from the referee. My thought was with the subsequent one they might go off. I would not take that danger, as properly as a result of we had Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans so we have now good replacements.

"Don't take the risk, take them off, I think it was the right decision. The performance from both [McTominay and Evans] was very good."