Pundit strongly disagrees with Gary Neville over 26-year-old Manchester United star

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Chris Sutton doesn’t believe Marcus Rashford did much to prove his doubters wrong against Manchester City, despite his great goal.

Manchester United slipped to their 11th loss of the season on Sunday as they were beaten 3-1 by neighbours Manchester City.

Erik ten Hag’s side did take a shock lead, though, when Marcus Rashford scored a rocket after just eight minutes.

The 26-year-old had made headlines during the week when he called out the recent criticism he has faced in an article for The Players’ Tribune.

Gary Neville thought Rashford’s goal was a good way to silence his doubters but Chris Sutton completely disagrees.

• READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace

Gary Neville on Marcus Rashford proving his critics wrong

Speaking on Sky Sports commentary after Rashford’s goal, Neville said: “He said in the week, if you back me ‘good’, if you doubt me ‘better’…

“But that is the best way to answer your critics! Smash one into the top of the net from 25 yards!”

Chris Sutton on Marcus Rashford’s performance v Man City

However, while praising the goal, Sutton doesn’t think Rashford’s overall display was good enough to prove anyone wrong just yet.

Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton said: “Well he certainly didn’t [prove his doubters wrong].

“I get why Gary Neville would say that in commentary but you have to look at the whole game and certainly you look at his level of performance.

“His goal was brilliant you can’t get away from that and credit to him for the strike. We know he’s capable of that.

“But is he at the levels where has been previously? That’s the best way to judge him.

“So, he can come out and defend himself for his actions. I don’t know where he was really going with that, saying he was a Manchester United supporter.

“That’s all well and good but people judge you by what you do on the football field and actions speak louder than words.

“This season he hasn’t let his football do the talking and last season he did. That’s how we judge him.”

Rashford still has some work to do

Rashford’s goal was incredible and hopefully, it’s a confidence boost he needs to get back to his best form of last season.

But he has not reached that level yet and the rest of his display at the Etihad didn’t match his sublime strike.

Rashford had two more good opportunities to hurt City but failed to take them, one when he was clean through on goal but his first touch let him down.

Then he was also easily bundled off the ball by Kyle Walker in the lead-up to Phil Foden’s equaliser.

It’s a promising sign and it’s clear he is much better off the left than through the middle, but Rashford needs to do a lot more to shut his critics up.