Graham Potter has defended his team after they picked up five yellow cards at Old Trafford.

And the figures so far this season bear him out – at least in terms of bookings.

Lewis Dunk’s foul on Dan James took the skipper to five yellow cards this season and meant a one-match ban, to be served when Leicester City visit the Amex.

Dale Stephens was cautioned in only the fifth minute of the 3-1 defeat.

Full-backs Martin Montoya and Dan Burn saw yellow before half-time.

And Davy Propper was booked in the second half.

Head coach Potter said: “I think it’s the speed of the game, the speed of the attacking players on the pitch for Manchester United. It’s not so easy.

“You mis-time a challenge and it doesn’t looks good.

“We are not a malicious team, I would say, but the likes of James and Martial and Rashford, when thy nick the ball away from you, you can mis-time them.

“I think it just reflected the speed of Manchester United’s play.”

Only three Premier League teams have had fewer yellow cards than Albion’s tally of 18 so far this term.

They are Southampton, with 14, Liverpool, on 13, and Leicester, who have received just 12 yellows.

At the other extreme, Arsenal and Watford have had 27 yellows apiece.

Stephens and Montoya both saw yellow for a third time this season in Sunday’s game while Propper received his second.

Burn’s booking was his first of the campaign.

He joins Steven Alzate, Adam Webster, Solly March and Neal Maupay on one booking.

Although Albion have a good record in terms of yellow cards, they do not fare so well with reds.

They are one of six teams to have had two reds so far this season. No team has yet had three.

Tottenham, Wolves, Newcastle, Everton and Southampton are the other sides with two dismissals.