LOUIS VAN GAAL admitted to growing increasingly frustrated by Manchester United’s finishing after their Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough last night.
But, it’s not just a lack of sharpness in front of goal that’s the problem.
United’s overall creativity pales in comparison to that of their rivals, as this statistic from the Press Association shows.
On average, van Gaal’s side conjure 10.5 shots on goal. At first glance, perhaps that doesn’t seem too worrying.
But when placed against the tallies of others, it’s clear that United are struggling.
They lie 15th in the ‘shots per match’ table, behind the likes of Aston Villa, Watford, Norwich and their opponents this weekend, Crystal Palace.
For the most part, the top-ten corresponds with the current Premier League standings, with the notable exception of fourth-placed United.