Chris Smalling Says It Will Be Unacceptable If Manchester United Lose to Watford

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has challenged his side to bounce back from Thursday's shock defeat to Feyenoord, adding a third successive loss when they face Watford on Sunday would be "unacceptable."

Smalling captained the Red Devils in Wayne Rooney's absence against Feyenoord, and he attempted to rouse United ahead of Sunday's trip to Vicarage Road, telling MUTV (h/t Press Association, via ESPN FC):

"

We don't have time to dwell and we have a few days to recover. We make sure that we stand up and be counted on Sunday because we've got a big result to get.

I think [the confidence] does take a little knock, but I think we can't forget some of the chances we created. I think on Sunday character ... needs to shine through because it's unacceptable to lose three games in a row.

"

Thursday's loss followed last Saturday's 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester City, where Citizens chief Pep Guardiola got the upper hand against United manager Jose Mourinho in their first Premier League meeting.

After a busy summer of splurging, Mourinho is already under some pressure to produce a result, and Squawka's Greg Johnson took a shot at illustrating a topsy-turvy season thus far:

Anticipation at Old Trafford was high for this campaign following a promising pre-season, capped off with a 2-1 win over Leicester City to win the Community Shield in August.

The Red Devils then went on to win their first three Premier League outings against Bournemouth, Hull City and Southampton, but back-to-back losses against Manchester City and Feyenoord have damaged prospects.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Smalling went on to say increasing intensity earlier in matches is a key area of improvement for United, who travel to Watford this Sunday in the first of two successive away matches.

Mourinho has also anticipated his men will make a swift bounce back to form in their trip to face Watford, per United's official Twitter account:

The club hasn't suffered three defeats on the bounce since Mourinho's predecessor, Louis van Gaal, saw his side drop at Wolfsburg, Bournemouth and Stoke City in December 2015, as well as losing at home to Norwich City.

Watford come into Sunday's clash on the back of their first win of the 2016-17 campaign, a 4-2 hammering of West Ham United, meaning Walter Mazzarri's men will likely be full of confidence in their next home outing.