RESULT! HETHO
The Saints’ £4million signing from QPR came on as substitute for his Southampton debut 11 minutes from time.
And three minutes from the end, he headed the winner from fellow-substitute James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick.
Match-winner Austin said: “It doesn’t come much better than that. Luckily enough I was there to put the ball in the back of the net but credit has to go to our defenders.
“I thought the lads were superb all match.”
Austin’s winner increased the gloom at Old Trafford, which used to be the place for goals and excitement. Not any more.
United were heading for their seventh home 0-0 draw of a drab season – until Austin made things even worse for Reds boss Louis van Gaal.
The pressure is increasing on the United manager and he had to endure a storm of booing at the final whistle.
But once again, this was not good enough from start to finish. Daley Blind at least managed an early on-target effort for United as they sought their first-half home goal in 11 attempts.
The Dutch defender struck his effort from 35 yards but it was comfortably held by the Saints fit-again England keeper Fraser Forster.
But a Wayne Rooney effort finished closer to the corner flag than the goal and Forster’s only real alarm in the opening half-hour was a short back pass by Virgil van Dijk.
The Southampton keeper, however, left his line sharply and got to the ball ahead of the speedy Anthony Martial.
The Saints actually came closest to a goal in the opening period, following a neat counterattack involving Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic. But when Tadic played in United transfer target Mane, the Southampton attacker missed his kick with only keeper David de Gea to beat.
It was no surprise when the booing from the United crowd started five minutes BEFORE half-time. Predictably, there was more energy from United at the beginning of the second half, with Juan Mata on for Marouane Fellaini.
That fired up a more positive response from the Old Trafford crowd.
But a Saints breakaway saw Mane produce a superb cross from the right. The ball was heading for Shane Long until Matteo Darmian’s vital headed interception.
But the Italian was injured when he collided with the Republic of Ireland striker and had to be subbed – adding to United’s injury crisis in the full-back positions.
Victor Wanyama then headed wide for Southampton from a good position.
Long also nodded over for the Saints, before Austin’s dramatic late intervention gave his new club a repeat of their win here last season.
Saints boss Ronald Koeman said: “After 27 years without a win here, we have now won twice – that’s great.
“And we showed great belief.
“It wasn’t a bad time for Charlie to score and we signed him because of his goals.
“But it’s not about one man – the job was done by the whole team.
“That’s three wins in a row and three clean sheets, so we have something to build on.”