5 talking points as Man Utd fate swings in crazy 150-second spell vs Southampton (original) (raw)

SOUTHAMPTON 0-3 MAN UTD: Andre Onana's penalty save was the turning point in Manchester United's first victory since the opening day of the Premier League season

Manchester United took home three points from the south coast

Erik ten Hag was given a much-needed reprieve as his Manchester United side turned a worrying start at Southampton into a comfortable 3-0 victory.

A quick-fire double from Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford punished Southampton striker Cameron Archer for missing a penalty just minutes earlier in the first half. Andre Onana produced the crucial save, a moment which sparked his team-mates into life.

Southampton went into Saturday's early kick-off searching for their first Premier League victory for 18 months, having bounced back from relegation last term by winning the Championship play-offs. United, meanwhile, were looking a response after suffering back-to-back losses in their second and third games of the season.

Here are five talking points from St Mary's.

1. Martin says the kids are alright

Just as there's been plenty of change in Manchester United's line-up this season, Russell Martin wants to refresh his Southampton side to ensure top-flight survival - even if it's at the expensive of the players who got them promoted. Still without a win this season, the Saints boss decided to hand outs four full Premier League debuts, including 18-year-old winger Tyler Dibling.

Wearing his socks lower than Jack Grealish but with confidence to match, Dibling did well to test Andre Onana in the first 10 minutes, forcing the United goalkeeper into a diving save. Southampton's newbies - Dibling, Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu, Mateus Fernandes and Cameron Archer -helped Martin's side control the opening period, with United limited to breakaway attacks.

Red Devils striker Joshua Zirkzee did have the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, though, failing to get enough contact on Christian Eriksen's through ball and allowing Aaron Ramsdale to block his sliding effort. That came after Eriksen, a surprise name in United's XI, did well to cut out Southamptons' promising attack courtesy of a superb run from left-back Kyle Walker-Peters.

Russell Martin put faith in his inexperienced players (

Image:

GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

2. Onana spares Dalot's blushes

Southampton's sustained pressure in the first half felt untenable for United and it was Diogo Dalot who hit the self-destruct button on the 30-minute mark. Sliding in with a naive tackle after the dangerous Dibling had burst past him and gone into the penalty area, Dalot was left to hope that after Archer's 51-second wait with the ball on the spot, goalkeeper Onana would come to his rescue.

And so he did, with the wait proving too long for Southampton's No.19 as Archer's low his effort towards Onana's right was comfortably saved - just like his rebound header. It was a huge opportunity squandered for the hosts and Archer would only be made to rue his miss even more just two minutes later.

Tyler Dibling was a thorn in Manchester United's side (

Image:

Michael Steele/Getty Images)

3. De Ligt and Rashford turn the tide

Not many players have had as difficult of a week as Matthijs de Ligt. With two mistakes for the Netherlands resulting in a half-time hooking against rivals Germany, the £37million centre-back needed a boost of confidence when he arrived on the south coast.

De Ligt, 25, enjoyed a solid start in a defensive sense but he showed his attacking prowess to put United 1-0 up. After Eriksen played a corner short to Bruno Fernandes, the Red Devils captain swung in a cross towards De Ligt, who'd been left free by the wandering Jan Bednarek.

Played onside by fellow Southampton centre-back Jack Stephens, the ex-Bayern Munich star had the task of powering his header across goal and past the Aaron Ramsdale. The Saints were gutted and it became a double blow for Martin's side five minutes later when Marcus Rashford - once again not called up for England duty - scored his first Premier League goal since March with a low, curling effort from outside the box.

His shot evaded everyone and went in off the foot of Ramsdale's far post to make it 2-0. United went into the half-time break boasting a comfortable lead but with much to improve.

Marcus Rashford and Matthijs de Ligt came to Manchester United's rescue (

Image:

GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

4. Ramsdale keeps Saints in it

With the decision to leave Arsenal behind him, it's time for Aaron Ramsdale to re-establish himself as a starting Premier League goalkeeper. Despite conceding three on his debut and another two goals by break, the former Gunners star pulled off a few impressive saves to ensure Southampton were still in the game.

Two shots from Rashford - one a dipping, low-range strike and the other a close-range blast - were two of his best, as he made seven saves in total. Martin will appreciate Ramsdale's willingness to play with his feet but it'll be his hands which matter most as to whether the Saints stay up or go back down.

Your turn! Will Southampton be relegated this season? Let us know your prediction in the comments section

Aaron Ramsdale made a string of saves (

Image:

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

5. Ugarte makes his bow

After a three-month pursuit which resulted in United coughing up the £51million which Paris Saint-Germain wanted in the first place, Manuel Ugarte made his debut with 20 minutes remaining. The Uruguayan hadn't played a competitive match since July during the Copa America, so it made sense for Ten Hag to hold him back - even while dropping the ailing Casemiro.

Ugarte's task got much easier in the 79th minute when Jack Stephens slid in recklessly on United substitute Alejandro Garnacho and received a straight red card from referee Stuart Attwell. With 10 men, Southampton couldn't muster enough to properly trouble the vistors, who came away with three points and a much-needed win after Garnacho wrapped it up in the final minute of added time.

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