Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho scored to give Erik ten Hag a much-needed win at St Mary’s, but it wouldn’t be Manchester United if there hadn’t been a scare somewhere along the way.
Andre Onana had to save a first-half penalty from Cameron Archer as United’s early-season woes threatened to erupt into a full-blown crisis on the South Coast against newly-promoted Saints, who have now lost their opening four Premier League games and also had captain Jack Stephens sent off for a terrible foul on substitute Garnacho late on.
United had started with two defeats in three games and another defeat here was almost unthinkable. The club had not lost three of its first four since 1986, leading to the sacking of Ron Atkinson and the arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Fortunately, Onana’s save from Archer was the wake-up call they needed to raise their game and go two up within another four minutes thanks to De Ligt’s first goal for the club since signing from Bayern Munich and Rashford’s first in six months since the FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.
This result will ease some of the early-season pressure on Ten Hag, whose next Premier League game is against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, where a 4-0 defeat last season left his job in limbo.
Marcus Rashford (left) and Matthijs de Ligt scored the goals that gave Manchester United victory over Southampton
De Ligt headed United into the lead in the 35th minute of the Premier League clash.
Marcus Rashford (left) scored the second from distance to double the lead before the break.
Rashford (right) celebrates after scoring his first goal for Manchester United in 189 days
Doubts have resurfaced earlier this season than expected, but ultimately this was a good day ahead of Barnsley’s visit to Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
The big question before the game was whether Ten Hag would keep faith with Casemiro after his error-plagued display against Liverpool last time out or whether he would go for new £50.5m signing Manuel Ugarte. The answer was neither. Both started on the bench alongside a third defensive midfielder, Toby Collyer, with Christian Eriksen partnering Kobbie Mainoo in the middle.
It was a bold decision by the United manager, but he felt Eriksen deserved a chance. “He has had a good pre-season and in training he has put in some very good performances, so he has earned a place in the starting line-up,” said Ten Hag, who also started Amad Diallo on the right flank in place of Garnacho.
‘We have to integrate Manuel into the team. He has only had two sessions, we have to integrate him and that takes time. Casmeiro will play, I am convinced of that. We have a squad and we offer many games.
De Ligt (left) headed the ball past Aaron Ramsdale (right) and into the net.
Ramsdale was also unable to stop Rashford’s shot that went in off the post.
On paper, it looked like a straightforward game for United, sandwiched between tough Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Palace. Saints had not beaten United in the league in 14 games since 2016 and had not done so at St Mary’s since 2003. They came into this game on a club-record 16 Premier League games without a win after suffering three consecutive defeats since returning to the top flight.
Saints boss Russell Martin handed Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu and youngster Tyler Dibling their first league starts as he looked to end that run.
Perhaps he would have achieved it if the game had not turned differently during a decisive four-minute period towards the end of the first half.
Diogo Dalot, still playing on his weaker side at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, had struggled with Dibling throughout the match before the energetic youngster got the better of him again in the 37th minute. Dalot made a clumsy lunge to try and stop him but brought Dibling down and referee Stuart Atwell pointed straight to the penalty spot.
Onana has made a pair of penalty saves in his first year at United and the Cameroonian was again the winner, diving to his right to block Archer’s shot and then comfortably laying down the striker’s subsequent header.
Alejandro Garnacho fired into the back of the net to seal the win in added time
Garnacho celebrated his goal sitting on the advertising board and crossing his arms
United punished the Saints almost immediately. After Joshua Zirkzee’s low shot was tipped in off the post by Aaron Ramsdale in the 35th minute, Eriksen curled a short corner in for Bruno Fernandes. The United captain curled a cross in to the edge of the six-yard box, where Stephens was playing with several United players, including De Ligt, who headed in off the far post.
It was all the sweeter for De Ligt, who had been criticised for his performances for the Netherlands during the international break and was substituted at half-time against Germany on Tuesday.
United almost had a second when Ramsdale saved Rashford’s shot from close range after he exchanged passes with Amad, but the visitors – and Rashford – did not have to wait long.
Eriksen took the corner again and play swung to the left where Amad set up Rashford. The goalkeeper cut back to Archer and curled the ball in off Ramsdale’s left post, with De Ligt unable to see the keeper.
Until then, Saints had been more in control of the game in the first half hour, with United making the most of the opportunities.
Dibling spun Dalot on to make a run and forced Onana into a spectacular save, and Ugochukwu headed just over the area from a free-kick.
At the other end, Zirkzee had a chance to score but was out of touch with Eriksen’s clever pass and failed to get his shot on target, causing Ramsdale to struggle. Noussair Mazraoui tested the keeper with an ambitious volley from 25 metres and Fernandes fired wide from Amad’s breakaway pass.
De Ligt came close to scoring his second and United’s third before the break but Ramsdale came out to block him and did the same to deny Rashford shortly after the interval before tipping the United No10’s effort over the bar.
Ten Hag’s side attacked almost at will and should have extended their lead had they been more effective. Martin responded by sending on four substitutes (Adam Lallana, Ross Stewart, Ryan Fraser and Maxwell Cornet) to try and get Saints back into the game.
But it was of little use and Ten Hag was able to bring on Ugarte in place of Eriksen and Casemiro as De Ligt’s auxiliary centre-back.
The Brazilian was involved in United’s third goal in added time, splitting the defence to allow Dalot to pass the ball to Garnacho, who fired a shot into the roof of the net.
By then Saints had been reduced to 10 men after Stephens was shown a straight red card in the 79th minute for a foul on the touchline on Garnacho that caught the Argentine winger on his right knee.
They have become the first team to lose their first four games in three different Premier League seasons. It’s a long road back from here.
