Southampton 1-1 Manchester United
Time is not something largely given to managers in the Premier League and there will be plenty of criticism for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after this.
It’s worth pointing out that United’s three best players in this game were his summer signings.
However, that will not improve the mood of many United followers, including this SBOBET writer, who believes too many mistakes are being made at the top level of the club – well above Solskjaer’s pay grade.
This game was a case in point and the statistics are damning.
Solskjaer’s side are without an away victory since defeating Paris Saint-Germain last March, have won just one of their last nine league fixtures and have recorded only three wins in their last 16 games — nowhere near good enough!
Highlights of the game
This game brought the curtain down on another eventful week at Old Trafford. Key departures were the order of the day and were questioned by some, although the manager insisted he had faith in those waiting in the wings.
Yet it was clear the pressure was building, not helped by the fact that United were without Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial, who had hamstring and thigh injuries, respectively.
In contrast, it had been a good week for Southampton — injuries to Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo aside.
Away wins at Brighton and Fulham in league and cup were certainly encouraging for a club hoping to avoid flirting with relegation for a third successive season.
With a South Coast derby looming on the horizon in the League Cup, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl called for his side to focus their full attention on this lunchtime clash.
And he got his wish as both sides produced 90 minutes of Premier League 2019 highlights.
There were chances from the first whistle.
Daniel James, fouled a league-high 11 times in his first three games for the club, showed a turn of pace to get behind the hosts’ backline. From his cross, Marcus Rashford was waiting to pounce, only to be denied by a brilliant block from Jannik Vestergaard.
Then it was the Saints’ turn to go close as Sofiane Boufal unleashed an effort from the edge of the area which flew narrowly past David de Gea’s post.
The deadlock was broken 10 minutes in and it was quite a goal.
Scott McTominay showed pace and awareness to burst through the middle and play in James down the left. But the Welshman still had plenty to do as he cut inside and smashed the ball beyond the reach of Angus Gunn.
The goal buoyed United and, from another McTominay pass, new signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka volleyed just over the bar. Gunn then punched away a James strike.
Back to the other end and McTominay proved just as effective defending as he blocked an effort from the dangerous Boufal.
There was always a feeling United needed a second goal to be comfortable. That had already been highlighted in their first away match of the campaign when they were pegged back by Wolves instead of making the game safe.
To make that point, carelessness 10 minutes after the restart allowed Boufal to thread the ball to Che Adams, who should have tested De Gea.
The warning wasn’t heeded and minutes later the hosts were level. Vestergaard towered over Victor Lindelof to head home a teasing cross from Kevin Danso after De Gea had punched clear.
It was Vestergaard’s first goal for Southampton and the defender was emphatic at the other end a short time afterwards with a superb block on Rashford.
There were 17 minutes remaining when Danso received a second yellow card for hacking down McTominay to seemingly give United the initiative.
Almost immediately, Gunn beat out a stinging drive from James and Hassenhuttl brought on a defender Maya Yoshida to compensate for his side’s numerical disadvantage.
With no Alexis Sanchez or Romelu Lukaku to call upon this time, this was a real test to see if United had enough attacking quality to break down the hosts.
The pressure was building as the largely ineffective Paul Pogba picked up a loose ball and angled a pass for Rashford. The United forward’s low shot was kicked away by Gunn, while substitute Mason Greenwood was lively.
But no goal was forthcoming. The latest Premier League 2019 betting odds on United will only add to that pressure.
Key statistics
James has scored three goals in his four Premier League games for United; he scored three in his final 22 Championship appearances for former club Swansea City.
In all competitions, United have won more away games at St. Mary’s against Southampton than any other side (10).
Southampton are winless in their last nine home league games against United (drawn four, lost five).
The side playing at home in this fixture has won just three of the past 16 Premier League encounters (drawn six, lost seven).
Southampton have won only one of their most recent six league fixtures at St. Mary’s (drawn three, lost two).
They have also scored in their last 16 home league matches, while their opponents have found the net in 15 of those encounters.
The Red Devils have kept only one league clean sheet in their last 15 league matches. They have conceded 23 goals in this run and scored just 20 times (won five drawn four, lost six).
United are without a victory in six away league fixtures and have lost three of those matches.
What’s next?
There’s now a fortnight gap for the first international break of the season.
Both resume at 3 pm on September 14 when Southampton travel to newly promoted Sheffield United and Man Utd host Leicester City.
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