Southampton Vs Manchester United

(a little late due to a technical malfunction, otherwise known as my lap top died)

After the Fulham game (3-2 United home win) I couldn’t wait for the game at Southampton to roll around. We played some great football at times and though the defence had looked a little shaky I knew that they should have some of the defenders back who had so far been forced to watch the game from the stands. Even with Rooney out injured with that nasty cut, a situation that last year would have left me wondering all week where goals are going to come from, I was sure United had enough attacking ability and they would cruise through this one. This confidence didn’t dissipate when I saw the team sheets, Ferdinand returning meant that some could argue we had a full strength back four at last to protect Anders Lindergaard in his first game of the new season. With Ashley Young out with a strain Fergie choose to go with Danny Welbeck on the left, if that isn’t a message to Luis Nani I don’t know what is. With Rooney out for the next month or so RvP and Kagawa were granted another start after a great first half together against Fulham .

Southampton have a tough run since coming up from the Championship facing The champions Citeh on the opening day, they put up a tremendous fight in that game going two one up before a late comeback. That game told the league that they weren’t here to make up the numbers and with players like Rickie Lambert in the side they will certainly be no push over’s.

The Game started in much the way I expected, with United dominating possession in search of an early goal. Southampton soaked up the pressure well and looked really organised at the back and after a nervy started grew into the game and in fairness no United fan when the took the lead in the fifteenth minute. Jason Puncheon put a long diagonal ball into the box for Rickie Lambert to rise above Rafael and nod past the helpless Lindergaard. It was a well created goal but as soon as I saw Rickie Lambert move away from Ferdinand towards the back post I knew we were in trouble. Rafael can go forward but he can’t defend and I have a horrible feeling I’m going to have an opportunity to point this out every week he plays this season. United would respond quickly though and it was the new signing Van Persie that levelled things up, I’m sure we’ve been here before. Antonia Valencia pinged in a deep cross to the back post which Van Persie brought down on his chest while his marking Nathaniel Clyne lost his footing, this left RvP the time to pick his spot and drill a low strike into the bottom corner. it’s the type of goal I can see him scoring all season long. The rest of the first half was like a game of cat and mouse, Southampton would take the ball forward then it was United’s turn to probe the opponents defence, no really clear cut chances were created and one - one at half time was a fair reflection on how things had gone.

The second half started in much the same vein with perhaps Southampton having just the better of it as their confidence and belief grew, they worked hard and pressed United well. Kagawa especially was having a torrid time of it, the Southampton players would stand off him inviting the ball into his feet and as the ball got played rush at him, it worked to great effect and he was nowhere to be seen in this game. Southampton got the reward for their efforts in the fifty fourth minute and this time Rickie Lambert turned provider with a carbon copy of the first goal at the other end of the pitch, Lambert played a cross to the back post which Morgan Schneiderlin headed across the goal into the bottom left corner, it was a well placed header but I was frustrated that United had conceded what in my eyes was he same goal twice. For the next five or ten minutes or so things did get nervy as Southampton full of belief looked to put the game to bed and it was no surprise when Sir Alex decided to change things up as the hour struck, Paul Scholes came on for the ineffective Kagawa and Cleverly was replaced by Nani. After that the game changed, anybody that has watched football during Paul Scholes career will tell that the midfield maestro can control a game and the last half an hour in Southampton was a perfect example of this. Within ten minutes of being on the pitch United had gone from being on the ropes fighting to keep points within reach to being on top search for the goals to bring points home, it wasn’t just that they were attacking well again there was a belief that came onto the field with Scholsey, he is just that type of player. On the sixty seventh minute RvP won and missed a penalty, it was definitely a penalty from how ever you look at it and it was definitely an awful penalty. He tried a dink over the keeper, think Pirlo in the euros and your there only this one failed miserably and at that point I thought United were done. I have watched United long enough to know better. After the penalty miss they really stepped their game up but as is the United way they left it late . In the eighty sixth minute, Rafael over lapped Valencia down the right and played a first time ball into the area, Ferdinand powered forward and slammed his header against the post, fortunately the rebound fell to RvP to put in a quick tap in. Did the united faithful dare to believe in yet another late comeback, damn right they did and in the second minute of extra time the players repaid their belief in full. Luis Nani whipped in a corner that Van Persie leaped well to put a header past Kelvin Davis and into the back of the net. Game over.

Not sure how they came away with three points from that one but does it really matter? I would like to see United play great football and win five- nil every week but I would take games like this where they scrape through and salvage three - points every week if it means the reclaim the title, I’m just not sure if Fergie’s heart would take it.