NEWCASTLE: United Kingdom: Jose Mourinho admitted toothless Manchester United could have played for 10 hours without scoring in their surprise 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday.
Mourinho鈥檚 lacklustre side were beaten by Matt Ritchie鈥檚 65th minute strike, but they rarely looked like taking all three points against the Premier League strugglers.
United are now 16 points behind leaders Manchester United after their second defeat in their last three league games.
Conceding United could have no complaints about the result, Mourinho said: 鈥淢y verdict is that we could鈥檝e been here for 10 hours and not scored a goal.
鈥淣ewcastle played with their lives and defended with their lives.
鈥淭hey got from us a defensive mistake and from a free-kick they scored. The gods of football were clearly on their side.
鈥淭hey must have an amazing feeling after giving absolutely everything.鈥�
Ritchie鈥檚 goal came from a free-kick awarded for a needless dive by United defender Chris Smalling inside his own half.
But Mourinho wasn鈥檛 critical of his center-back鈥檚 mistake.
鈥淎 defender has to concede free-kicks now and again. It was an intuitive thing,鈥� he said.
鈥淧layers who do it in the box deserve a card more than Smalling in that situation.
鈥淐learly I know we lost the duel in the air and it鈥檚 difficult to accept that.鈥�
United squandered the few chances they created, leaving Mourinho frustrated as his team鈥檚 faint title hopes suffered another blow.
鈥淲e had some chances with the score at 0-0. Alexis (Sanchez) had an open goal and then the countless opportunities of the last 20-25 minutes,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he double miss of (Anthony) Martial is incredible in the last minute.鈥�