Erik ten Hag has criticised three Manchester United stars for making an ‘easy game’ difficult by spurning chances against Luton.

United picked up their fifth straight victory after winning 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Sunday. But the visitors were made to cling on for all three points despite racing into a two-goal lead after just seven minutes.

Erik ten Hag named three players who didn’t perform to their best during the win at Luton

Alejandro Garnacho wasted one opportunity to put the game beyond Luton

Rasmus Hojlund opened the scoring after just 36 seconds, then he made it two while the game was still in its opening exchanges. At that point, it looked like United could run away with it, only to see Carlton Morris halve the deficit in the 14th minute.

The Red Devils side continued to create – and miss – chances, with the home support growing in belief as the game wore on. United ultimately held on to keep the pressure on the teams above them, but Ten Hag picked out Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes for failing to convert opportunities.

“I think quick up and, as you say, we had good chances with Garnacho and Rashford, it could have been three or four-nil,” the United chief told Match of the Day (via Daily Mirror). “After that we lose some focus and we are not so strict in what we should do and they came more in the game. We dropped too deep and allowed them too many passes.

“We gave some chances away and they got the 2-1. That’s no good. But after half-time we picked it up. We had several chances. So many chances one against one. I think it was Garnacho, Rashford again, it was Bruno Fernandes. We had so many chances, it should be 3-1 in these moments.”

Marcus Rashford was responsible for one of United’s big misses 

Bruno’s shot is blocked by Lokonga

He added: “Their goal brought the pressure on. They had crosses into the box and shots, but not the chances we had. We had big chances and with our abilities, we should have scored. We make the progress but also you see we have to stay focused during the whole game. I will not say switch off, but when you do a little bit less, then you get punished.

“The way we started was perfect and that’s the way we want to do it, it was a perfect game plan but the only thing we didn’t do is be more clinical in front of goal. We must score more goals because today we could have easily scored five goals.”

“We can’t afford this. We have to be all-time 100 per cent focused. Do your job together, in and out of possession and then you can control your games. What could have been an easy win was now a difficult win.”

United’s win brought them within three points of fifth-place Tottenham and five behind Aston Villa in fourth. “We’re back in the race,” Ten Hag told Sky Sports.

“Now we just need to keep the momentum. We need to put the pressure on the teams ahead of us, we just need to go from game-to-game and know every game is a final for us.”