​Former Manchester United and Everton defender Phil Neville has stated that Jose Mourinho must avoid the defensive pairing of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling after yesterday's 1-0 defeat against Newcastle United.





Smalling was ​roundly mocked for his dive in the buildup to Matt Richie's winner while his defensive partner Jones did not look assured alongside the England international.





Phil Neville brands Man United defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling "a disaster" after Newcastle shocker https://t.co/KJ2bCGOtrW pic.twitter.com/bXQYoTSalF — Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 11, 2018





Speaking after the game, Neville suggested that playing Smalling and Jones together created a nervous tension among the Red Devils' backline which led to them losing the match.





He said, “They’ve got the best defensive record in the Premier League because they’ve got the best goalkeeper in the world in David De Gea. Then they’ve got Matic sat just in front who protects them really well. But the last two away games, against Tottenham, Smalling and Jones had a disaster, they were bullied by Dele Alli and Harry Kane."





I never want to see a Chris Smalling Phil Jones defensive partnership at Manchester United ever again. #mufc — United Xtra (@utdxtra) February 11, 2018





He continued, “Today, did they make many mistakes? No, but they created a nervous tension. They were making strange decisions all day the two of them. That’s Smalling tackling with his wrong foot, and that challenge on Dwight Gayle should have been a penalty."





"They didn’t take responsibility on the ball and they were sloppy in possession. As a partnership Mourinho has to split them up now and play Rojo with one of them or Lindelof with one of them," Neville added.



