Ryan Giggs confident of Manchester United's revival in December
United slipped to ninth in the Premier League after suffering a fourth loss of the season with the 1-0 defeat by Everton on Wednesday.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: December 06, 2013 02:13 PM IST
Ryan Giggs believes December gives Manchester United the opportunity to get back into the title race as David Moyes's team prepare to face Newcastle.
United slipped to ninth in the Premier League after suffering a fourth loss of the season with the 1-0 defeat by Everton on Wednesday.
The Old Trafford side, who won a 20th league title last season, are now 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Although the end of United's 12-match unbeaten run, against Moyes's former club, is a significant setback, the coming weeks offer the champions plenty of opportunities.
After hosting Newcastle, United play Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and also face Stoke in the League Cup during a run of league games up to the turn of the year that include meetings with Aston Villa, West Ham, Hull and Norwich.
United veteran Giggs, who recently turned 40, feels a lack of composure in front of goal is a key reason for the club's recent problems.
But the player-coach maintains it would be wrong to write off United's title chances before the new year.
"We'll get a better idea in the new year and hopefully we can start picking up points again. We've had a few disappointing results but the performances have not been that bad," said Giggs.
"We're just not getting the rub of the green or taking our chances when we should. If you don't do that, you are going to get punished like we did against Everton.
"It's a quick turnaround but we've got to pick ourselves up. We cannot feel sorry for ourselves for too long. It's a home game and hopefully it will be a different result," he added of Saturday's match at home to Newcastle.
"We need to get on a run, before this we were on a 12-game unbeaten run. We have to get over this disappointment now."
The champions' hopes of solving their problems in front of goal against Newcastle are not helped by the fact that Wayne Rooney is absent through suspension.
Moyes also said after the Everton defeat he is unsure when star Robin van Persie, who has been out since November 10, will return from a groin injury, while Michael Carrick is still out with a calf problem.
United can at least draw confidence from the fact they have not been beaten at home by Newcastle since 1972.
Alan Pardew revealed how his Newcastle squad was left shaken after their return flight following the defeat at Swansea was hit by severe turbulence as storms battered much of Britain.
The north-east club travel by aeroplane to all but one of their away league games due to the distances involved.
"It was a little bit hairy and there was a bit of applause at the back of the plane when we landed," said Pardew.
The 3-0 defeat at Swansea's Liberty Stadium ended a run of four consecutive victories for Newcastle.
"We're expecting a reaction from Manchester United after their loss," said Pardew, who has an injury doubt over Senegal forward Papiss Cisse (heel).
"I think they'd gone 12 unbeaten before that so it's not as though they're in crisis after one result, but there is a little bit of pressure on them and we've got to try and capitalise on that."