JOSE TURNS FIRE ON REF, NOT HIS PLAYERS

MANCHESTER UNITED were booed off at Old Trafford last night after being held to a grim goalless draw by struggling Southampton and Jose Mourinho later revealed a double injury blow.

Top scorer Romelu Lukaku had to be carried off on a stretcher just minutes into the tepid stalemate and Mourinho reckons his 14-goal marksman will miss at least two matches.

The United manager has also confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out for another month after just returning from a careerthreatening knee injury.

The gloomy injury bulletin added to the mood of unease at Old Trafford, as United were held to a third successive league draw.

They have dropped to third in the table behind Chelsea, and will trail runaway leaders Manchester City by 17 points if Pep Guardiola’s champions-elect win at Crystal Palace today.

Mourinho refused to criticise his players after the shocker against the Saints, preferring instead to single out referee Craig Pawson for criticism.

The Portuguese insisted Pawson should have awarded United a penalty for handball against Maya Yoshida, saying: ‘I think it is also a disappointing afternoon for Craig because he’s a fantastic referee, one of the best in Europe.

‘We missed easy chances but I’m really unhappy with the penalty, not with Pawson’s performance. A clear penalty wasn’t given.’