Roy Keane criticized Ian Wright and Roberto Martinez for being 'too friendly' in their assessment of Rasmus Hojlund's performance after the Dane missed a host of chances in the first half of Manchester United's 2-0 win in the FA on Monday night Cup.
United led at the break thanks to a fine finish from Diogo Dalot, but Hojlund was at the center of many chances that begged for Erik ten Hag's men.
Speaking at half-time on ITV, Ian Wright and Roberto Martinez felt the Danish striker needed to do more to finish chances when they came at him, but were sympathetic to his struggles.
'I heard Ally (McCoist) say that you sympathize with him, and as a striker you do that too. But you have to take advantage of some of the chances we saw in this game,” the former Arsenal striker said at half-time.
Fellow expert Roberto Martinez echoed Wright's thoughts:
Rasmus Hojlund missed some great chances in the first half for Man United against Wigan
Roy Keane declared he would be 'fuming' with Hojlund after his misses in Monday's first half
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“He's such a dedicated player and gives you so much,” he said.
'I think it's unfair to judge him now just on his goals, but of course he's a No. 9 for Manchester United and comes with a big price tag.
However, Keane disagreed and insisted that Hojlund's teammates would have every right to be annoyed by the striker, who has scored just once in 18 games in domestic competitions so far.
“You're too nice, you're too nice, I'd be furious with him,” said the former United captain.
'Tonight they (Man United) brought their habits from the Premier League in terms of missing chances, not being clinical. I want to see that side of United tonight.
'He misses his chances with the striker, so we can say: bad luck, oh dear. Create chances, put them in the back of the net, stop messing around!'
A close-range header that went over the crossbar was an opportunity that Wright highlighted on the break.
“This is the one that would keep me awake because you could see it all over your head,” he said.
Keane (left) disagreed with fellow pundits Roberto Martinez (center) and Ian Wright (right)
The former Manchester United captain insisted Hojlund had to finish his chances
“He's in a good position here, right on his head, just the way he's going to lead it. He puts his head down and it lands on top of his head. He needs to get rid of his forehead. You have to hit that forward.”
Another saw the ball bounce awkwardly off Hojlund in front of an open goal while he was four yards away, an opportunity that might have fallen differently had he not been under pressure to deliver the goods for Man United.
Wright said: 'I think this is really an accident for him because it comes very late and by the time it comes in it bounces off his knee.
“But again, you have to be aware of it, but again, to me it's just the time he's in at that point, you asked them if you were taking those risks.”
The ITV commentary panel disagreed with Hojlund's contribution in the first half
Commentator Ally McCoist said Hojlund “needs to score that” after a miss from four yards
While praising Hojlund's work rate, Martinez admitted the Dane needed to be more clinical.
“You have to score those goals, but he does nothing wrong in those chances,” he said.
'Probably the header, he has to look at the ball, but the others get a moment of confidence in another moment, the ball hits you and goes into the back of the net.
'The problem as a coach is that you don't see the player in those positions during the next action.'
Shortly after the miss from four yards out, McCoist, who works as a color commentator for ITV, said: 'Rashford is doing exceptionally well again. Cuts inside his favorite right foot and smashes it.”
As the ball bounced awkwardly to Hojlund, he added, “Wow. Anywhere on the goal, anywhere on the goal, it's a goal.
'He must continue, he must continue.
'I'm curious what Wrighty thinks about that, but I think he has to score it. You could say it's coming back a bit quickly, I understand all that.'