Another step forward for determined United
IT is one thing beating Liverpool in a febrile atmosphere in front of your own fans fuelled by the desperation that comes with wanting to atone for a 4-0 drubbing at Brentford.
It is quite another trying to build on that flimsy foundation when the crisis has passed and the desperation has dimmed.
Faced with a Southampton team already digging in for the long haul, many thought Manchester United might revert to type. They did not.
They did not win any prizes for beautiful football, either, but they fought hard and claimed victory.
Erik ten Hag named the same starting XI that beat Liverpool on Monday. That meant Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the bench, to be used as an impact substitute.
When he was asked if the Portuguese would be at Old Trafford beyond the end of the transfer window, Ten Hag said: ‘I hope so.’
Everything worked at St Mary’s. The club skipper Harry Maguire remained on the bench as well, and his replacement as captain, Bruno Fernandes, scored the winner with a fine volley that rounded off a sharp move early in the second half.
There was also a debut for new £70million signing Casemiro, and even in the short time he was on the pitch, he impressed with energy and desire.
Southampton, though, should have taken the lead on the half hour. A corner was flicked on at the near post and Armel Bella-Kotchap was allowed to take a touch in the box before somehow he lifted his effort over the bar. Ten minutes after half-time United carved the home defence apart down the right until the ball reached Diogo Dalot. Dalot looked up and picked out Fernandes with a driven pinpoint cross and Fernandes drilled it low past Gavin Bazunu on the volley.
Scotland international Scott McTominay appeared to handle twice — ‘three times, actually’, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said — as he tried to clear in the box but VAR thought otherwise.
David de Gea then brilliantly saved a header from ex-Rangers star Joe Aribo. Kyle Walker-Peters nodded the rebound over.
United dug in to protect their lead. Bella-Kotchap blazed over five minutes from the end and then Sekou Mara clipped a volley wide.
Ten Hag was pleased with his side’s spirit, saying: ‘You saw a team on the pitch, good organisation, fighting for each other, and I think there were also some really good moments from playing football.’
Hasenhuttl was content with his side’s showing. ‘The performance was very good,’ he said.
‘We had a lot of chances created today and didn’t give them a lot, so from this part I think we matched them.’