Louis van Gaal accuses Man United side of throwing away "expensive points" as Newcastle secure late draw

Manchester United led twice at St James' Park but were pegged back on both occasions and Van Gaal felt his side dropped two points.

Louis van Gaal accused his side of throwing away “very expensive points”.The Manchester United coach said the thrilling 3-3 draw with Newcastle “feels like a defeat”.

Late escape: Paul Dummett scored in the 90th minute to earn Newcastle a point

Geordie defender Paul Dummet snatched a point for the home side in the 89th minute, after United had squandered a 2-0 lead, and what could have been a late winner from Wayne Rooney.

Van Gaal said his players should have had six goals and admitted: “We were the better team and that is why it is frustrating and we lose very expensive points.

“It feels like a defeat. We have given it away.”

United have won one game in eight league games and Van Gaal added: “I am very disappointed. We are very disappointed. We could have finished the match much earlier, Lingard, Fellaini... but we didn't do that. I have said that to the players.”

Asked if he enjoyed the high scoring game after being criticised for turgid recent performances, Van Gaal said: “We have scored three goals and got one point. We have to score one more than the opponent and we didn't do that.

Disappointed: United captain Rooney reacts at full-time

“We have a fantastic defence but we conceded three. Is the defence weak now? No. Unlucky in the decisions of the referee and the deflected shot, and not finishing the chances.

“We must win today. And we didn't do it. That is football. That is why people love to go to matches like this.”

Rooney scored twice and Jesse Lingard got the second goal. But Newcastle fought back to 2-2 through Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty, before Dummett's rocket.

Van Gaal was furious with the penalty Mitrovic won. He said: “The deflected shot of Dummett, it is luck for Newcastle United, but you have to force the luck.

“Penalties? It is no discussion. Mbemba is putting his hand to the ball. He did is consciously, with purpose. That is a penalty.

“Then the heavyweight wrestling of Mitrovic against Smalling. You can clearly see he is pushing the head of Smalling to the ground. Then they are heavy weight champions, and you can judge who is the heavy weight champion, and he has decided it is Smalling!

“When I see the video, yeah, it is not like that.”

Wayne Rooney said: “After scoring three good goals, it was maybe a lack of concentration - not staying with runners for the third - and that is disappointing.

"If you take a two-goal lead, we should be taking all three points and killing the game off. We didn’t take all our chances and we have been punished for it.

"We always want to try and play entertaining attacking football that is what we work on and try and do, and hopefully we can come up with more solutions."

Van Gaal said the game was lively because unlike some teams Newcastle tried to attack.

He added: “Newcastle was attacking. That is the difference. I say that all the time. You doubt my words. When you see two teams wanting to attack you can see a game like today.

“When you see only one team who wants to defend, waste time and frustrate the opponents, yeah....”