David Moyes’ life in the managerial hot seat at Manchester United continued to stutter this weekend as Mauricio Pochettino’s nascent Southampton impressed at Old Trafford. The Red Devils started with a lot more urgency and the manner of their football was fluent but they couldn’t make an early breakthrough against a resolute Southampton defence.
Southampton were able to forge chances of their own as their high pressure game forced mistakes at the back for Man. United. Argentine born Italian international Pablo Osvaldo was presented with a golden opportunity but only managed a tame effort at goal.
United continued to create half chances until last week’s hero, Adnan Januzaj played a precise ball round the defence to put Wayne Rooney one on one with the keeper. He could only manage to hit it square at the Artur Boruc but Robin Van Persie picked up the loose ball and rounded the keeper to slot it into the back of the net.
With the crowd now on their side, they continued to attack with Rooney smashing a shot against the crossbar. Into the second half and the pattern was the same, this time with Van Persie hitting the bar with a header from a corner. Boruc was quick to prevent the follow up effort from Nani. United’s inability to take their chances cost them in the end as they dropped deeper to protect the lead and let Southampton have the ball.
Southampton pressurised United’s back line and Clyne was put through to hit a fierce drive at David De Gea. From the resulting corner, some sloppy defending allowed Dejan Lovren to bundle in an effort and cue celebrations from his Southampton team-mates.
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