14 September 2024
Southampton 0 Man Utd 3
It has been a tough reintroduction to Premier League life for The Saints as they continue to search for their first points of the season. Man Utd were the visitors to St Mary’s who themselves were looking to bounce back after defeat against Liverpool before the international break. Erik ten Hag is still trying to win over the fans to prove he is the right man to lead them forward.
Southampton made a positive start in front of their own fans as youngster Dibley broke down the right. A great turn saw him leave Dalot for dead as he strode towards goal. He cut inside onto his left foot and looked to bend a shot in the far corner but Onana made a good save to deny him. It gave the home fans some hope they could mix it up at this level.
The visitors should have taken the lead when Diallo and Eriksen combined. The Danish midfielder played a dangerous pass into the path of Zirkzee but as he slid in to convert, he could only get a slight touch to the ball and Ramsdale made the save. The Saints hacked the ball clear but it was a huge chance for ten Hag’s side to take the lead.
Dibley continued to cause Dalot problems down the right wing. As he looked to take on the defender, the youngster skipped past him before the full-back committed to a sliding challenge. The Southampton winger went to ground and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. As the replay showed, despite Dalot’s protests, it was a stonewall penalty.
Then came the pivotal moment of the game. Archer stepped up to take it and his weak penalty was saved by Onana and his follow-up header was even more lacklustre and easily gathered by the Red Devils’ keeper. Southampton had spurned the chance to take the lead and change the course of this game and in doing so, boosted the confidence of the visitors.
Man Utd came forward and some good interplay between Rashford and Zirkzee saw the Dutch attacker get a shot off at goal. Ramsdale got down well to tip it around the post. Eriksen played the corner short to Fernandes, who clipped a dangerous ball into the back post. De Ligt had a free header and beat Ramsdale as the ball nestled in the far corner.
Martin’s side had paid the ultimate price for their penalty miss. As they looked to come forward once again, the move broke down and the visitors countered. Diallo and Rashford combined before the striker got a shot off that forced a good save from Ramsdale. At this stage of the game, the Red Devils looked like scoring every time they came forward. Southampton were on the ropes.
The resulting corner was deep and picked up by Diallo. He spotted Rashford in space, who shot through a sea of players into the bottom corner of the goal. Erik ten Hag’s side had doubled their lead just before the break and you were left wondering whether The Saints had it in their locker to come back from this setback.
Ramsdale left his duties as benchwarmer at Arsenal for first team football on the south coast. He has certainly gone from one end of the spectrum to the polar opposite as he is going to have plenty to do in between the sticks for Southampton. Just after the interval, Rashford drew another good save from the Englishman as he tipped his effort over the bar.
As much as Southampton look to play a passing game under Martin, they struggle to create any clear-cut chances at this level. It seems all too easy for sides to hold them at bay, like a taller bully putting their hand on the head of a child wildly swinging with no chance of making contact with them. The Saints were becoming more frustrated by the minute.
The visitors looked to counter as another attack broke down as Garnacho used his pace to get down the touchline. With his bleached blonde hair, the Argentine winger looks like an extra from the music video ‘The Real Slim Shady’. Stephens lunged into the challenge and wiped out the Man Utd winger, who was left rolling around on the turf.
There was no doubt this was a foul, everyone was just waiting to see what card was produced. As The Saints’ defender was shown red, many in the ground thought this a harsh decision. Seeing the replay however, it was a reckless lunge by the Southampton man, catching Garnacho high up on the knee. You could see why the referee gave him his marching orders.
The Red Devils should have added to their tally when Diallo picked out Zirkzee in the box. His shot seemed to have Ramsdale beaten but Harwood-Bellis did well to block the effort. Deep into added time Dalot got to the byline and picked out Garnacho, who drilled his shot into the top corner to put the icing on the cake for the visitors.
It proved to be a solid victory for Man Utd but even at this early stage of the season you have to wonder whether Southampton have the minerals to survive at this level. This result could have been all so different had The Saints scored their penalty but that is the harsh reality of football in the top-flight, you will often be punished for not taking your chances.
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