Southampton v Man Utd LIVE: Marcus Rashford scores in comfortable win to lift pressure on Erik ten Hag
Southampton 0-3 Manchester United: Matthijs de Ligt and Rashford struck twice in eight minutes for the visitors after Cameron Archer’s penalty was saved by Andre Onana
Manchester United claimed a morale-boosting win to ease the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag as Southampton lost a fourth consecutive game since returning to the Premier League.
United came into the early kick-off needing a result following back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Liverpool and Southampton were handed an early chance to give Ten Hag a further problem when Diogo Dalot fouled 18-year-old winger Tyler Dibling in the penalty area.
But Cameron Archer’s effort from the spot was saved by Andre Onana and moments later the striker’s miss was punished by Matthijs de Ligt, the defender heading home from Bruno Fernandes’ excellent cross for his first United goal since signing from Bayern Munich.
Marcus Rashford then scored his first Manchester United goal since March to double the lead for the visitors. The forward was left unmarked on the edge of the box and bent a dipping shot inside Aaron Ramsdale’s post to end his scoring drought after a difficult start to the season.
Southampton offered little in the second half - in fact, Russell Martin’s side did not have another shot on goal after Archer’s penalty miss - and they were later reduced to 10 men when captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a wild lunge on Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho added a third in stoppage time as United claimed an important three points. Follow all the reaction to Manchester United’s win in our live blog, below
‘This was a crucial game for Manchester United'
Former England striker Peter Crouch on TNT Sports: “This was a crucial game for Manchester United after the international break. They were playing a Southampton side who made basic errors but United capitalised. It was a morale-boosting win.”
Andre Onana penalty save ‘changed the game’ for Man Utd
Player of the match Matthijs de Ligt speaks to TNT Sports:
“It was really important. Three points out of three games was not enough, so there was pressure on this game. Today we played well. Maybe at the beginning we had some trouble. Big credit to Andre who saved a really important penalty. It changed the game for us actually.”
FULL TIME! Southampton 0-3 Manchester United
Happy faces in the United end at full time. A comfortable afternoon in the end for Erik ten Hag’s side.
FULL TIME! Southampton 0-3 Manchester United
Just what Manchester United needed. A 3-0 win and a morale-boosting performance to lift the mood after back-to-back defeats. The match turned on Cameron Archer’s penalty miss, with Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford scoring twice in eight minutes before half time.
Alejandro Garnacho scored in added time, after Southampton skipper Jack Stephens was sent off for a wild lunge on the winger.
GOAL! Southampton 0-3 Manchester United (GARNACHO 90+5’)
That’s it! United have threatened that all afternoon. Dalot is played five yards onside, with Southampton not pressuring the ball, and the cut-back finds Garnacho.
The winger’s finish goes high into the net. 3-0. Job done.
Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
90+3 mins: Matthijs de Ligt is given player of the match by TNT Sports.
Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
90 mins: CHANCE! United have missed the opportunity to rack up the score in the second half. Diallo’s run leads to a chance for Zirkzee, but his effort is blocked.
We’ll have six minutes of added time.
Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
86 mins: A worry here for Manchester United as another defender is forced off, this time De Ligt, who says he has cramp. He’s replaced by Casemiro, who returns to the pitch at centre back after that disastrous performance against Liverpool two weeks ago.
United’s back four is now Dalot, Casemiro, Maguire and Evans.
But Southampton have not had a shot since Archer’s missed penalty.
RED CARD! Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
78 mins: Southampton are down to 10! It’s a straight red card for Southampton captain Jack Stephens. It’s a horrible challenge, flying into Garnacho’s knee from the side with his studs raised after the winger had skipped away.
Awful, and completely unnecessary at this stage of the game. He’ll be banned for the next three, at least, while Garnacho is lucky he has escaped a serious injury.
Southampton 0-2 Manchester United
75 mins: Maguire is booked immediately for kicking the ball away in a very similar incident to Declan Rice’s second yellow two weeks ago.
Lisandro Martinez looks to have picked up a knock. His last action is to win a challenge in the box to stop a Southampton attack, but he is replaced by Jonny Evans.
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