Lukaku calls own tune
ROMELU quite an St Mary’s.
As well as scoring the only goal of the game against Southampton, the Manchester United striker found himself again serenaded by the travelling supporters with a song so explicit in its estimate of one aspect of his physical prowess that United issued a statement saying they “will take further action against individuals if this continues”.
And finally he was left behind by the team coach as, perhaps dehydrated by his energetic running on a hot day on the South Coast, he laboured in vain to provide a sample for the mandatory post-match drugs test until his LUKAKU had afternoon at first to the rebound. It was Lukaku’s sixth Premier League goal of the season in as many games and Jose Mourinho, sent to the stand late on for encroaching on the field of play, admitted the striker had exceeded his expectations – some statement after paying £75million for him.
“I knew he would always score goals,” said the manager, right. “I knew he would always score more goals for us than for Everton or West Bromwich Albion. That’s logic. But I was not expecting him to be, match after match, putting the ball in the net.”
Saints defender Maya Yoshida said Lukaku creates huge problems. He said: “It’s really tough – like when we conceded, if they put the ball in the box it is really difficult to stop him. We were pushing up and trying to take him away. One or two times we couldn’t do it and he scored.”
Lukaku was only denied a second by Forster’s outstretched leg, but even with his single strike his scoring form throws Saints’ struggles in front of goal at St Mary’s into sharp focus.
Including the back end of last season, Saints have failed to score in nine of their past 10 home games in all competitions, the only exception being a 3-2 victory over a West Ham side with a very generous defence.
On Saturday, Shane Long was an isolated figure up front for most of the game and although more natural marksmen in Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini were sent on late, Mourinho countered by adding Chris Smalling to his backline and United held on.
“We have to be more clinical for sure. But defensively we did much better than last season. So the way we are going is not wrong,” said Yoshida. It was a lack of goals that contributed so much to Claude Puel’s summer sacking, but his successor Mauricio Pellegrino said: “In general we controlled the game against a team who are really difficult to control, even when they are defending because on the counter-attack they are really good. “They have pace and, in direct play, are really strong. But we did 90 per cent really well. Against this type of team you have to play really well, really close to excellent to win. “They realised we were playing well. The best teams in the world adapt their players to every single situation.”
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1):