Ashley Young facing suspension for pointless incident with Dusan Tadic

They've dropped to third, they've won two of their last seven games, drawn the last three - modern day Manchester United just won't perk up.

To make matters worse, Ashley Young is sure to be hit with a three-game ban for an utterly pointless attack on Dusan Tadic during the 0-0 home draw with Southampton. The United full back has been one of few bright sparks for the club this season. He has been a model of consistency, he's dug them out at times in defence and attack and he's one success story in an otherwise bland Mourinho era. Now, he's going to miss the trip to Everton, the FA Cup game and a home clash with Stoke because he decided to elbow Tadic on the goal line for no apparent reason. Southampton have a corner, Young is manning the attacker. Young decides to dig an elbow into Tadic and follows through. Tadic has no clue why. In fairness to the Serb, he takes the blow like a champ and goes out after the ball without really reacting once the hit impacted. But Young will now miss the following games:

• Everton (a)
• Derby (h)
• Stoke (h)

And Derby are absolutely flying at present - even more so than Bristol City - and sit in second place in the Championship. Young will surely be hit with a retrospective punishment with no real justifiable reason for his action. The ball is kicked and he drives an elbow into the stomach of Tadic. The ball goes about 15 metres away from the two of them. Hope it was worth it. Whether he was trying to lay down a marker, whether he was trying to act a big man or not, he's now going to miss three more of United's games when they haven't won in their last four. Pointless. Stupid. Sums the whole thing up at present.