Manchester
United came from behind to overcome Southampton in a fascinating encounter at
St Mary’s. Two Graziano Pellè strikes came either side of an Anthony Martial
brace and a Juan Mata effort. Saints started strongly as they rattled United in
the early stages, however they faded as the match went on.
Ronald Koeman elected to make three changes
with Maya Yoshida, Oriol Romeu and Sadio Mané coming in for Cédric Soares,
Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez. While Mané was back in the starting line-up
after only being deemed fresh enough for the bench against West Brom, Yoshida
and Romeu were undoubtedly picked for their defensive strength – Koeman
attempted to shackle both Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney who was back in the No
10 role, as one of four switches made by Louis van Gaal. Luke Shaw, Bastian
Schweinsteiger, Ander Herrera and Ashley Young made way for Marcos Rojo, Morgan
Schneiderlin, Michael Carrick and the United captain.
Following a short discussion between the two
managers – quite possibly regarding a post-match tipple – Southampton got the
proceedings underway, but neither team had a sight of goal in the opening ten
minutes. The first opportunity came as the ball was lifted up the right wing to
Pellè who shoved off the challenge of Daley Blind, before Dušan Tadić stepped
up to unleash a drive with his weaker right foot on the edge of the box, but
the Serbian only found the advertising hoardings. Minutes later, Saints took
the lead. Mané set James Ward-Prowse racing down the right channel, before the
England Under-21 captain curled the ball back into the path of the onrunning
Senegalese in the centre of the penalty area. His shot was brilliantly parried
by a sprawling David de Gea, but he was helpless as the ball fell to Pellè who slammed it into the bottom
corner. The Italian then wheeled off to celebrate in unique fashion – holding
an imaginary rugby ball as he dived over the byline in front of the Chapel
Stand, emulating try scorers from the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup.
Shortly after that, he could have been sliding over the “try line” once more.
Carrick was hassled off the ball by Saints and Romeu found the Italian, who
turned past the hapless Blind, but he could only sidefoot the ball onto the
outside of the post. The Southampton striker was having a field day as Blind
and Smalling found it impossible to contain him, while on the left wing, Tadić
was mesmerising Matteo Darmian as he continually outwitted the right-back. United
were ineffective down the other end as Mata repeatedly cut inside to deprive
his side of balance, while Rooney was doing little to cut open the Southampton
backline. The game was to change on the half hour mark though. Southampton
began to drop off and as a result, left a large space in the centre of the park
for United to expose. Victor Wanyama and Oriol Romeu were almost on the toes of
José Fonte and Virgil van Dijk, while Mané was playing just behind Pellè. United
slowly moved through the gears as they took control of the engine room. In the
34th minute, they found the equaliser. Southampton were unable to
adequately clear their lines, and the Red Devils forced the ball past Fonte who
misjudged the pass, letting an offside Mata into the box, yet play was allowed
to continue by referee Mark Clattenburg. Yoshida got back to slide the ball
away from the playmaker but it fell to man of the moment Martial, who turned away
smartly from Van Dijk before slotting the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg. Moments
later, the away side pressured Southampton once again, as a low pass across the
box from the left was met by former Saint Schneiderlin, however the Frenchman’s
shot was blocked behind for a corner.
As the players returned for the second
period, both managers made alterations to their sides. The injured Matt Targett
was replaced by Cuco Martina, while Darmian made way for Antonio Valencia as
Van Gaal believed that Tadić was having far too much space on the left side. The
United boss would have been delighted with the way his side started the half
though, as they took the lead for the first time. In unfamiliar territory at
right-back, Yoshida tried to find Fonte with a short pass, but it was wayward
and he only gifted Martial the ball,
who sprinted through on goal before rolling it past Stekelenburg’s outstretched
leg. Southampton’s lack of possession in the middle of the park signified that
United were starting to build more and more attacks, and Koeman had seen
enough, as Romeu came off for Steven Davis. The Northern Ireland captain
managed to get his foot on the ball; Saints were calmed by his presence and
they came close from a set-piece opportunity. Tadić whipped a corner to the
near post where Fonte met it with a powerful header which was arrowing towards
the top corner, before De Gea threw up a hand to prevent the equaliser. That
excellent stop was crucial as United found their rhythm once more.
Schweinsteiger entered the fray for Carrick, and the veteran had an important
role in the away side’s killer goal. He was the centre piece as the Red Devils
completed 45 passes before Memphis Depay wandered into the box. Fonte was slow
to react as the attacker quickly turned away from him and hammered a low shot
against the foot of the post, but on hand to finish was Mata. Southampton still had not given up hope of getting something
from the match though. Mané burst into the box, and slalomed past Smalling, but
the forward then inexplicably tumbled to ground without a touch from the
defender, as he looked for an unjust penalty. Eventually, Southampton did find
a route back into the encounter. Mané found space on the right side of the box,
and his cross into the centre found Pellè
who rose magnificently to head into the top corner past the rooted De
Gea. This signalled a frantic last five minutes as Saints pushed for a
leveller. Wanyama came the closest to doing so, as he dummied a shot before
smashing the ball towards the top corner, but De Gea was level to the effort as
he got up to tip the shot away. In a game that had the potential to end with a
very different outcome for Southampton; a combination of individual errors,
lack of control in central midfield, and impressive performances down either
end of the pitch for United, handed the visitors the spoils.
Man
of the Match
Graziano
Pellè: Starved
of good service at The Hawthorns last week, the big striker held the ball up
immensely well against United’s defence, and bullied Blind throughout the game.
His link-up play was central to many of the chances that Southampton created,
and he finished his opportunities like a true poacher should. When given decent
delivery from the flanks, he will inevitably find the back of the net on a
frequent basis.
Teams
and Ratings
Southampton
Stekelenburg
6 – Yoshida 5, Fonte (C) 5, Van Dijk 6, Targett 6 (Martina 45’ 6) – Wanyama 6,
Romeu 5 (S. Davis 56’ 6) – Ward-Prowse 6 (Long 76’ N/A), Mané 6, Tadić 6 –
Pellè 8
Bookings:
Van Dijk, Fonte
Goals:
Pellè (13’, 86’)
Manchester United
De
Gea 8 – Darmian 5 (Valencia 45’ 6), Smalling 6, Blind 5, Rojo 6 (McNair 69’ 5)
– Carrick 6 (Schweinsteiger 60’ 6), Schneiderlin 6 – Mata 6, Rooney (C) 5,
Depay 6 – Martial 7
Goals:
Martial (34’, 50’), Mata (68’)
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