Manchester United surrendered a half-time lead as a poor second half display allowed Southampton to fight back and earn a share of the spoils on the south coast. The result leaves Solskjaer’s men with three wins from sixteen, whilst 10-man saints battled well in the final twenty minutes to shut the visitors out and move up to 13th in the table.
As it happened
United dominated early proceedings with new signings Harry Maguire looking assured and confident in playing out from the back and Daniel James displaying a direct threat on the left wing. James’ willingness to drive towards goal paid off in the 10th minute as he received the ball out wide, cut in and struck the ball clean and true into the top corner from the edge of the box. For those who doubted James’ final product, Juan Mata’s overlap provided the space and the 21-year-old produced a truly emphatic finish to take his season’s tally to 3 in 4 games.
The early onslaught lead by James continued as the Welshman continuously fired powerful shots into Angus Gunn, although none of them precise enough to extend the visitors’ lead. United showed tremendous energy in attack as through balls into the channels allowed the searing pace of James and Rashford to torment the saints back line. Meanwhile, a lack of composure and a tendency to ‘knock it and run’ by Danny Ings and Che Adams up front saw Southampton spend long periods without the ball, although they finally began to grab a foothold in the game just before half time.
In the second half, Southampton continued to grow in confidence as United’s attacking energy began to dwindle. The hosts were growing frustrated at their failure to capitalise on what was their best spell of the game as Che Adams lashed an effort over the bar from close range, a spurned opportunity that was characteristic of his poor afternoon. However, the saints got their reward just before the hour mark through Jannick Vestergaard who was still loitering in the United box following a corner. A ball in from Kevin Danso found its way onto the head of the 6’6 Norweigan who dominated Victor Lindelof in the air to power a header past David De Gea.
United’s first half threat had all but disappeared by this point and the game appeared to be there for the taking for either side. That was until the otherwise impressive Danso slid in recklessly to receive his second yellow card of the game. It was an absurd decision that left Mike Dean with no choice, and the young Austrian’s mistake required Southampton to batten down the hatches for the final twenty minutes. Substitute Mason Greenwood almost stole the headlines with a curling 88th minute effort, but Hassenhuttl’s men held on for an impressive point against United.
What did we learn?
Solskjaer will be gutted to come away with less than three points as his team began so brightly. An unorthodox attacking quartet of James, Mata, Pereira and Rashford operated with a level of dynamism and offensive vigour that the saints simply could not handle early on.
Romelu Lukaku’s absence leaves United without a true focal point up top, a reality that both helped and hindered the reds in this fixture. Early on, balls into the channels caused Southampton all kinds of problems with Rashford equally adept at blazing down the wing and crossing balls in as he is running through on goal himself. His and Juan Mata’s ability to link play at the top end of the pitch mean United’s attacks are much less uniform and predictable when they are firing on all cylinders. As a result, it is increasingly important that those supporting the striker chip in with plenty of goals this season as Daniel James has done so far.
Having said this, when Southampton sat back to see out the game it was the lack of focal point up front that meant United never really looked like taking all three points. As the saints sat deep and defended compactly they restricted the visitors to hopeful balls into the box and shots from distance. Rashford, for all his pace and linkup play, was unable to bully the opposition defence and make those balls into the box his own. As exciting as the fast, counter-attacking threat was in the first half, Southampton found a way to nullify it and without replacing Lukaku, United are ultimately without a plan B.
It was not a game devoid of positives for United however, as new signings Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka put in impressive displays respectively. Maguire was not only a strong presence at the back, but also a reliable starting point for the team’s attacks with adventurous passes forward. The £80m signing stepped into midfield with success and regularity, and during the closing stages he became an integral part of United’s offence by keeping attacks going from the edge of the opposition box. The way the 26-year-old has started the season hints that his meteoric rise is by no means finished.
Wan-Bissaka meanwhile spent most of the game on the floor winning slide tackle after slide tackle. Whilst he was an active part in United’s attacks down the right flank early on, his defensive feats were even more impressive. Up against the talented Sofiane Boufal, he gave the Moroccan a torrid afternoon by dominating him 1 vs. 1, eventually forcing Ralph Hassenhuttl to shift Boufal to a central position where his influence on the game increased. The two summer signings, at a combined £130m, are undoubtedly taking United’s defence in the right direction.
Southampton meanwhile will feel fortunate to come away with a point, but will be encouraged by their resolute defending to see out the tie. It was a poor afternoon for their attackers but the saints defence, weak on paper, earned due praise for their performances. 20-year-old Austrian Kevin Danso had perhaps the most eventful afternoon of all, putting in a solid performance and assisting Vestergaard’s goal before inexplicably sliding in to receive his second yellow on 73 minutes. The youngster on loan from Augsburg showed a streak of inexperience, but his performance up to that point and monstrous throw-ins could render him one to watch this season.
Premier League action resumes in two weeks time for these two sides as the international break looms, with Southampton travelling to Bramall Lane to face newly promoted Sheffield United, whilst Manchester United welcome Leicester City to Old Trafford.
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