SOUTHAMPTON 2, MANCHESTER UNITED 3
- Graziano Pelle opens the scoring for Southampton
- Two goals by Anthony Martial and one by Juan Mata put United in control
- Two great saves by David De Gea keep United in front
- Pelle adds a second for Saints late on but they can’t find the equaliser
Teenage striker Anthony Martial repaid another two chunks of his much-reported transfer fee and Juan Mata scored the winner while David De Gea proved his world class goalkeeping credentials as Manchester United overhauled an early Southampton lead to win 3-2 at St Mary’s.
And with six games gone, the Reds find themselves in second place in the Barclays Premier League – just two points behind Manchester City – having scored each of their last five shots on target.
Reds captain Wayne Rooney returned from a hamstring strain, displacing Ander Herrera to pay in the number 10 role behind Martial with Memphis Depay and Mata either side of him.
Midweek injury casualty Luke Shaw was replaced by Marcos Rojo who slotted in next to Chris Smalling, while Daley Blind moved to left back.
Martial made a much better show of front running in place of the more physical Marouane Fellaini while Bastian Schweinsteiger made way for Morgan Schneiderlin to complete the changes but Van Gaal’s men made a slow start on the south coast.
United were under the cosh for the first 30 minutes at St Mary’s but their hosts were wasteful when they could have been clear and away before the break.
Graziano Pelle gave the Saints a deserved 1-0 lead after 13 minutes when his shot beat David De Gea.
The big Italian could have extended Southampton’s lead three minutes later when Oriol Romeu found him with another pass but Pelle hit the post.
James Ward-Prowse forced a save out of De Gea with 20 minutes gone but United continued to ride their luck before the tide turned.
Anthony Martial showed composure, dexterity, and a cold eye for goal to take the ball clear and fire in United’s equaliser in the 34th minute following a very patient build-up in United’s only clear chance of the first half.
The ball broke to Martial and five minutes into the second half, Maya Yoshida’s back pass was poor and left Martial an easy task to put United into the lead after Maarten Stekelenburg committed himself early.
Jose Fonte looked certain to have equalised with a header just before the hour mark but was denied by a world class save by David De Gea.
The Spanish international clawed Fonte’s chance away one-handed when it looked to have gone past him and the ball bounced back out off the bar.
United were dictating play and gave themselves a two goal cushion in the 68th minute when Memphis showed a great bit of skill to turn and find space only to see his scuffed shot come back off the post but Juan Mata was there to tuck the rebound away for 3-1.
Pelle’s close range header from Sadio Mane’s right wing cross reduced the deficit with four minutes to go and Victor Wanyama brought another great save from De Gea in added time but United had done enough to shade the contest.