ROM’S RUN STUNS JOSE
Lukaku equals Saha feat
THERE are three certainties in life right now – death, taxes and Romelu Lukaku scoring for Manchester United.
Lukaku’s priceless winner at St Mary’s made it six goals in his first six Premier League games, equalling Louis Saha’s run from 2014.
The Belgian has hit the ground running with eight in total in all competitions, quicker than even United legends Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Manager Jose Mourinho admits he has been stunned by the £90m hitman’s breakneck start to his Old Trafford career.
“I knew he would score goals, more for us than he did for Everton or West Brom, that is logical, but I was not expecting him match after match to put the ball in the net,” said Mourinho.
“He is a striker that is scoring goals, but his work is so important for us and he worked hard like everybody else.”
Lukaku’s scrambled 20th-minute goal settled a scrappy game on a day when Mourinho’s men were far from their best and their manager ended it by being sent off in stoppage time.
Ashley Young, one of United’s most improved players under Mourinho, crossed from the left and when Lukaku’s header was pushed out by Fraser Forster he reacted to slam home the loose ball.
From there United would have expected to go on and win easily against a Saints side who have managed to score in only one of their five home games this season, but the visitors were made to cling on at the end.
“The way we attack, we’ve been doing it since the start of the season,” said Mourinho.
“It’s nothing new for me but we defended against a team that tried everything to score a goal and rescue a point.”
While title rivals Manchester City are sweeping all before them, United were forced to play ugly at times but have kept five clean sheets in six league matches.
Young admitted his side had to dig deep to ensure they stayed level on points at the top with free-scoring City.
The left-back said: “It was a tough game, a game where we had to defend and defend as a team. It was not a United performance but we came down here to get the three points and that’s exactly what we did.”
Despite dominating the second half Saints were rarely able to trouble United goalkeeper David De Gea and home boss Mauricio Pellegrino hailed United for their dogged and determined approach.
Pellegrino, who again named wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk on the bench, said: “I think they realised we were playing well and when you are not better than the other team you have to defend.
“You cannot always play really well. The best teams in the world adapt their players to every single situation.”
Saints striker Shane Long was also frustrated saying: “I thought we deserved more from the game.
“United are a good side so to limit them to one goal is a credit to our performance and it is a shame we could not find an equaliser.”
If Saints had a player with the nose for goal of Lukaku, the outcome could have been very different.