MAN UNITED 0, SOUTHAMPTON 1
Manchester United’s woes continued following their fifth defeat in 10 games as they were beaten at home by Southampton.
The battle of the Dutch managers saw Ronald Koeman heap more pressure on under-fire Louis van Gaal as Saints won at Old Trafford for the second successive season.
And there was a fairytale debut for Saints’ new £4million striker Charlie Austin, a player who had previously been the subject of an enquiry from the Reds.
Austin had only been on the field for 7min 43sec when he headed the only goal of the game that leaves the Reds in fifth place with only three wins in their last 13 games.
These are certainly challenging times for van Gaal and, after only one home win in the last five home games, the fans are becoming increasingly disgruntled.
There were cries of “attack, attack, attack” in the opening period and the fans vented their anger at the final whistle with a deafening chorus of boos. And as van Gaal disappeared down the tunnel, the manager was subjected to personal abuse.
Van Gaal admitted: “It was a poor performance and football is not only about defending but creating chances.
“We didn’t create anything and our opponents did, and it was a poor game for the fans.
“I can imagine their reaction because I have also seen a poor match and I have to analyse that as a manager as the players also have to do.”
Van Gaal added after the win at Liverpool, there was confidence they could have built on that success.
He continued: “We can change things and it is my job to do so, but it is not an easy job at the moment.
“We had won three and drawn one of our games, but couldn’t show that form or confidence in this game.”
Koeman was delighted to record back-to-back wins at Old Trafford after previously failing to win at the ground for 27 years.
Saints’ manager explained that is why he signed Austin because of his goalscoring record.
He added it was wrong to single out players because the won was down to a team effort.
Koeman said: “That’s three wins and three clean sheets and gives us something to build on.
“We have the team to push up the table and fight for European football.”
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson replaced the injured Ashley Young, the one change from the side that kicked off at Liverpool on Sunday.
United were still without the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo.
Saints were without the injured Graziano Pelle but new-signing Austin was named on the bench.
United made a brighter start than usual as Anthony Martial fired wide and Daley Blind fired an effort straight at keeper Fraser Forster, both in the opening 13 minutes.
It was in contrast to the previous week’s game at Liverpool when it took 69 minutes to have their first on-target goal attempt.
Wayne Rooney had a couple of strikes at goal, but both were well off target.
Saints’ first chance later in the half came when Sadio Mane was released by a slide-rule pass Dusan Tadic, but was let down by awful control.
And in stoppage time there was a further chance when Jesse Lingard’s effort was deflected wide off Ander Herrera as United extended their run of not scoring in the first half for 11 successive home games.
United, dire in the opening period, needed new ideas and Juan Mata replaced Marouane Fellaini for the start of the second period.
And United lost yet another full back through injury when Matteo Darmian was forced off following a collision with Shane Long. He was replaced by Paddy McNair.
Saints came close to snatching the lead just after the hour when Victor Wanyama headed narrowly wide from a Ryan Bertrand corner.
New-boy Austin made his bow with 11 minutes left when he took over from Austin.
Saints had another half chance when Long headed over from a James Ward-Prowse free kick.
United made their last change with less than five minutes left when left-back Borthwick-Jackson was sacrificed for winger Adnan Januzaj.
But it was Saints’ substitute Austin who made his mark with three minutes of the 90 remaining as he was left free eight yards out to head home a free kick from Ward-Prowse.
Saints could have doubled their lead in stoppage time when substitute Oriol Romeu forced a decent diving save from David De Gea.
In the fifth and final minute of added time, Januzaj could have equalised. He hit a shot into the ground that flew just wide.
But after having only one on-target goal attempt in the goal – and that was easily saved by Forster – United did not deserve anything after creating so little.