Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists the absence of senior players is "no excuse".
He said on Sky Sports: "We're disappointed, of course we are. We do lack quite a few key players but that's no excuse now. The players work hard, they ran their socks off, at the moment we're in a position we're not used to.
"Some of them lack that little bit of composure and confidence in the last bit, and you can tell. We don't create enough chances to win a game of football."
He added: "The first half was very poor, that's the poorest we've been. Second half we dominated but we didn't create enough."
Asked what the solution is, the former United striker said: "That's the million dollar question. Luckily for us it's now the international break and we have time to evaluate what's been going on the first eight games. Many other games have been very similar.
"It's my responsibility. I need to sort the heads out, that's the main thing, because young boys maybe lacking confidence they need some help from the experienced players and the staff."
Solskjaer refused to give a timescale on how long it might take to get United back on track, but vowed "we'll get there".
He added: "It will take however long it will have to take. It's a journey that we've started on, and the culture is getting there. It's a delight to work with the lads. I can't give you any time but we'll get there.
"We've given ourselves a big, big uphill task to get among the top four, never mind the top six, this season, but it's tight and we've just got to get a run together and get the confidence back in the boys."
Asked if those at the top at United understood that it would take time to turn things around, Solskjaer said: "Yeah, we've come together and discussed the direction we're going.
"We'll have these days, we have these downs. Disappointing but we'll keep on working and we know where we want to get to."