THE NUMBERS JUST DON’T ADD UP FOR OLE
IT is not just Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who enjoys reminding everyone of Manchester United’s past glories. Their fans like to remember how things were, too, and on days like this, you can forgive them the nostalgia.
At St Mary’s they toasted heroes of yesteryear — Eric Cantona, Matt Busby, even Robin van Persie.
Then, after 10 minutes, the travelling jukebox repeated their new take on an old classic.
If Ryan Giggs used to tear you apart, United fans want you to know that Daniel James is the heir to his throne. They are big shoes to fill. But here the 21-year-old netted his third goal in four games — a fine strike from just inside the box — to put United on course for a crucial win.
Yet for all of Solskjaer’s insistence that his side are on course, and all the promise in his new attacking unit, old frailties continue to haunt them.
Even £80million signing Harry Maguire was powerless to prevent 6ft 5in Jannik Vestergaard rising above Victor Lindelof to score his first goal in English football and earn a share of the spoils.
Kevin Danso’s red card with 17 minutes to play gave United renewed hope but they failed to turn the screw.
James, Ashley Young and substitute Mason Greenwood all went close but a lack of ruthlessness cost them once more.
In their past three games, 52 shots have brought United three goals and three points. They have not won in eight away games — their worst record since 2014.
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted the red card ended his side’s chances of victory yesterday but the manager refused to blame Danso, instead ruing his own decision not to bring the defender off following his first booking.
‘I’m very proud of my team but also the whole stadium, the crowd — how they pushed us, energised us,’ said Hasenhuttl.
‘In the end, it was only about our character and mentality and the guys showed a lot of it and we deserved to get the point. We’re very happy.’
The mood is less buoyant at Old Trafford as they slipped further off the blistering pace set at the top of the table by arch-rivals Liverpool.
Solskjaer insisted afterwards that Paul Pogba will remain at United this season despite lingering interest from Real Madrid.
‘Paul Pogba will be playing for us,’ he said. When asked if Pogba was happy with that, the United boss added: ‘I’ve just said that.’
Pogba, who gave the ball away 20 times during the St Mary’s encounter, limped heavily as he left the stadium after appearing to twist his ankle.