Sunday 2 April 2017 19:38, UK
Jose Mourinho's criticism of his strikers after Manchester United's goalless draw with West Brom was justified, according to The Sun's Neil Custis.
The stalemate was the eighth time United have drawn at home in the league this season as they lost further ground on the top four in the Premier League.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended and Juan Mata out injured, Mourinho's frustration was directed towards Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard.
And Custis said on the Sunday Supplement that players needed to step up in the absence of Ibrahimovic and Mata, who have scored half of United's Premier League goals this season.
"His criticism is justified. When Zlatan and Mata are the two top scorers, and they were both out, other people had to step up to the plate.
"Rashford, Martial and Lingard needed to, and they didn't. It's the first time he has really had a go and his frustration got the better of him, but he had to say it. This is Man Utd; they should not be a mid-table team.
"The goals aren't been chipped in from elsewhere, there's a reliance on Zlatan and Mata, and other players aren't doing it.
"They are unbeaten in 19, which is a good run, but they are not winning enough and not scoring enough. There is not time at Man Utd for potential, it has to be now."
Mourinho's side are the seventh lowest home scorers in the division with only 20 goals in 15 games at Old Trafford this season.
"In a lot of the other draws they were genuinely unlucky," said Custis. "Posts and bars have been hit, goalkeepers have had worldies, but yesterday wasn't one of those.
"In the second half they were on the front foot, but there's a lack of quality in the final third when Zlatan isn't playing."
Luke Shaw was not included in the United squad as he continues to struggle for minutes this season.
They are unbeaten in 19, which is a good run, but they are not winning enough and not scoring enough. There is not time at Man Utd for potential, it has to be now.
It has been reported that the defender, who was out for nearly a year after suffering a broken leg in September 2015, was not omitted due to injury.
"It's 18 months since Shaw had that deeply traumatic injury, and that's a long time in football but not in life," said The Independent's Sam Wallace.
"Shaw was just 20 when it happened…it was a horrendous injury. Things like that can take a long time for a young player to get over and he came to United at a time of transition.
"There is no question that on his day he is the most talented left-back in the country."
Custis added that he thinks Shaw still has the backing of Mourinho.
"I was in a press conference with Mourinho a few weeks ago and he went through his full-backs and at left-back said Luke Shaw is undoubtedly the best we have got, going forward," he commented.
"That does not sound like a manager who does not have faith in this guy. I think it's like tough love. He did it with Mkhitaryan and I think he's working on him, trying to instill something in him going forward, and I don't think Shaw is finished at Man Utd.
"I think he's been particularly hard on him, but he has made that statement to say he is the best full-back."
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