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Louis van Gaal acknowledged Manchester United were inferior than Crystal Palace during their goalless draw at Selhurst Park .

United managed a measly one shot on target to record their third successive goalless draw, while their goal drought passed the five-hour mark.

"When you are not creating so many chances I cannot complain," Van Gaal insisted.

"It was obvious that Crystal Palace started very well, they won every second and third ball and they keep the pressure on us and we didn't touch any ball, but we don't give too much away.

"Then, after 15 minutes we came into the match, we played our positional game, we had a big chance with Ander Herrera in the last minute of the first-half and he has to finish.

"We didn't finish that and in the second half, Crystal Palace maybe show more aggression than the first-half, we don't develop our positional game anymore and you cannot create chances when you play like Crystal Palace did with the long ball and the pressure is always on our goal.

"But still we could have scored in the second-half, I think, but that was too much. We were not the better team today and so I cannot complain."

United lost some of their treasured control in the second-half against the energetic Eagles, who were by far the more creative side, which irritated Van Gaal.

"You can never tell as a coach if it's the right balance when you are not having the control about the game and I want to control the game always," he stressed.

"Maybe in the second part of the first-half we control the game but in the second-half we didn't control the game and then you cannot speak of a balance in the team, I believe."

United supporters chanted 'attack, attack, attack' as early as the 20th minute following a spontaneous airing of Paul Scholes' chant days after the Reds legend continued his forthright criticism of the side's football.

The 3,000 Reds also chanted: 'We're Man United, we want to attack,' as the adventurous Palace dominated the second-half.

"The right of the fans is always there and I think they were what I have already said," Van Gaal remarked.

"After Arsenal, it was the first time that we were not the better team away. They have seen it very good, I think, so they can sing that but the next game they shall sing in maybe another way."

The Dutchman was adamant his forwards were not lacking in confidence, despite United managing one goal in their last four.

"I cannot see that," Van Gaal said.

"I don't think so, I think when I see the characters, I don't think that they doubt about that quality. It can change in one match and let that be against CSKA Moscow, because we need the victory."