CHANCE WAISTED, OLE
After their five-star show last week, United almost get their expensive pants pulled down by stylish Saints
RALPH HASENHUTTL looked very dapper indeed in his waistcoat.
And his Southampton team very nearly pulled Manchester United’s expensive pants down.
In fact, the Saints should have tied this one up and been out on the town celebrating with the chilled glass of white wine that their manager looked ready for.
New £15million frontman Adam Armstrong wasted two glorious secondhalf chances to earn Southampton their first win of the season.
Even so, his team will be much the happier with this point. United fought back from Fred’s first-half own-goal when Mason Greenwood levelled – but this was a bitty, disjointed performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. They did not lose – but this was one that they were expected to win.
The last time these two sides met, at Old Trafford in February, United thrashed Hasenhuttl’s team 9-0 after Saints had Alex Jankewitz and Jan Bednarek sent off.
Hasenhuttl insisted that miserable night had not lingered in Saints’ minds – and it did not look like it at St Mary’s.
Instead, it was United who looked at times like they were the team with the hangover.
Southampton started brightly as James Wardprowse, who signed a new five-year deal in the week, forced David De Gea to turn his free-kick round a post.
United then took over and somehow did not take the lead when Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick saw Paul Pogba’s looping header bounce back off the crossbar.
And Anthony Martial’s header from the rebound was brilliantly blocked on the line by Mohammed Salisu.
United’s set-pieces were causing problems, as Pogba saw his shot blocked, and then the Frenchman nodded over.
Saints were under pressure, but out of the blue they were ahead on the half-hour mark.
Fernandes lost the ball as Jack Stephens went in hard, leaving United furiously claiming a foul, but referee Craig Pawson waved play on.
Stephens found Moussa Djenepo and Armstrong’s clever flick fed Che Adams.
The Scotland striker took aim and the ball deflected off Fred and flew into the corner
for an own goal. Alex Mccarthy’s fine save from Nemanja Matic’s free-kick kept Saints’ lead intact – but United needed to improve fast.
Claims for a penalty were waved away as Pogba’s shot hit Salisu, but Southampton were still plugging away and Tino Livramento drove over.
Hasenhuttl’s side never looked totally secure at the back however, and when Pogba danced into the area, Fernandes’ flick found Greenwood and he shot home through a forest of legs.
Pogba then brilliantly beat three men but shot wide as United began to turn the screw, and from Fred’s chip, Greenwood nodded just over. Fernandes also saw his header saved by Mccarthy.
But then came Armstrong’s two big moments. Harry Maguire once again lost the ball, Adams played the new Saints man into space – but De Gea made a fine save.
A minute later, Armstrong missed a point-blank header after Adams flicked on.
Both were moments that he will have played over and over in his mind last night.
But Saints – well suited and booted, thank you.
United? A bit scruffy, to be honest.