Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho praised the way his side raised their game in the second-half to secure a 3-1 home win over Sunderland on Saturday.
David Moyes returned to Old Trafford for the first time since he was sacked by the club in April 2014 but goals from Daley Blind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a screamer from Henrikh Mkhitaryan ensured the former Everton boss left without a point.
FT: #MUFC 3 Sunderland 1. Five wins in a row after goals from @BlindDaley, @Ibra_official and @HenrikhMkh. Merry Christmas! #MUNSUN pic.twitter.com/rJp1Yoj7Ap
Speaking toMUTV-the club's official television channel - Mourinho said:"I liked the second-half. I didn't like the first-half. It was 1-0 at half-time and I think there was a clear penalty in our favour."
Apart frombemoaning the incident that saw Lamine Kone floor Juan Mata, Mourinho seemed in generous spirit.
"In spite of that, I don't think we deserved to be winning 1-0. [Sunderland] were organised well, this team came here to close and try to be dangerous on the counter-attack, with the long ball to [Victor] Anichebe to hold, and they did well.
"I did like the second-half, we brought to the game the way we have been playing in the past couple of months, playing really well with intensity, creativity and we were dynamic. I like the second-half very much as we could have scored five or six. It's three points.
"Twelve points from four matches. We've played well for a long time but points are what we need now."
United 1-0 up at half-time. Sunderland's ambition looks like it's gone. Pogba a decent bet for next goal. Playing well.
When asked what he said to bring about the upturn in his team's performance, Mourinho replied: "My message was that the game was going in the direction where we were in control but it was apathetic control. You never know.
"We needed to accelerate the game, press higher, play faster and short passes with more speed of the ball. We needed to bring the game to a different level and we did that from minute [46]. With [Henrikh Mkhitaryan] and [Anthony] Martial, we intensified even more the game and we scored the second and third."
Armenian playmaker Mkhitaryan scored United's third with a sensational backheel over his head that has to be seen to be believed.
GOAL Man Utd 3-0 Sunderland (86 mins). Wow! Henrikh Mkhitaryan sends in the most improbable backheel volley to put the result beyond doubt
On that goal, the former Real Madrid boss claimed: "[Mkhitaryan]has scored beautiful goals all his career. In this moment, [there are the] goals but also the defensive work and also creativity.
"And I'm so happy he came back after this injury and came back with his happiness and the feeling that the people at Old Trafford love him. That's a very important thing for him."
On Ibrahimovic, who added two assists to his goal, despite not playing at his best, Mourinho joked: "He should score more!"
"He had a [chance for] 2-0 in front of Pickford that I thought: '2-0 and game over and no'. But, independent of the goals, his work is amazing. I saw him making runs against Kone and Papy Djilobodji, young guys, but he was faster and stronger than them."
GOAL! Zlatan Ibrahimovic slots home & Jose Mourinho celebrates in delight. Fourth-straight win for #MUFC coming up. #MUFC 2-0 #SAFC #PLonNBC