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Manchester United’s stuttering season took another turn for the worse, as Louis van Gaal’s side were humbled at Old Trafford by his Dutch counterpart Ronald Koeman’s Southampton side for the second season running.A late header from a free-kick by debutant Charlie Austin gave Southampton a deserved 1-0 victory against a United side devoid of any rhythm, energy and urgency for large periods of the game. A lacklustre first-half saw Sadio Mane miss a glorious opportunity for the visitors and Wayne Rooney’s shot went closer to the corner flag than to the goal.Mata’s introduction in place of Marouane Fellaini briefly put the hosts in control, but some resolute defending by Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte shut out any little threat the Red Devils had to offer. The moment Matteo Darmian was taken off injured in the 60th minute, it was all Southampton as Manchester United struggled to deal with the pace of Sadio Mane and the strength of Shane Long up the field.The Saints pressure finally paid off in the 87th minute, when former QPR striker Charlie Austin making his debut as a substitute directed a free header past David de Gea from a well taken James Ward-Prowse free-kick. The away section of Old Trafford broke into ultimate delirium while intimidating a massive booing from the remaining 73,000 fans donning the red colours of Manchester United.Here are the five key incidents in and around a historic victory for Southampton and Ronald Koeman:
#1 Wanyama and Clasie win the battle of midfield
If Manchester United failed to offer anything as an attacking unit, it was all down to some excellent shielding play by midfielders Victor Wanyama and Jordy Clasie. The duo were solid in front of their 3-man defence – making crucial interceptions and tackles to stem the progress of the likes of Ander Herrera and Jesse Lingard into the Southampton penalty area. As a result, Manchester United were struggling to get any rhythm in their passing and were guilty of losing possession on a number of occasions. While the Kenyan did play in an advanced role on a few occasions – especially during Southampton set-pieces – it was the Dutchman Clasie, who stayed behind to neutralise any counter-attacks led by Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney. Their efforts paid dividends in the end, as they shut Manchester United out to earn a highly deserved clean sheet.
#2 Another Manchester United full-back on the injury list
Juan Mata’s introduction as a half-time substitute seemed to have turned the game the hosts way, as his good passing and approach play instigated a couple of goal-scoring chances for Manchester United in the first period of the second half. All that domination, however, turned out to be a brief one as Matteo Darmian damaged his ribs while trying to clear a Southampton cross – tangling with Shane Long in the process. Following lengthy treatment, he was forced off in place of Paddy McNair. His inexperience as a right-back showed, as Southampton constantly attacked that side of the pitch – wing-back Matt Targett constantly keeping McNair on his toes down the flanks.
Darmian’s injury was evidently a big blow to Manchester United’s chances of getting anything out of the game as he now joins Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young and Marcos Rojo in the list of full-backs facing a spell in the hospital.
#3 Who is marking whom?
If Manchester United were struggling as an attacking unit, then surely their performance on the other side of the pitch had something to smile about? Not yesterday. Manchester United’s defence were almost unbelievably hanging on to a point in the last 30 minutes of the second half thanks to some high pressing by Southampton’s attacking quintet – Matt Targett, Charlie Austin, Dusan Tadic, Shane Long and Cedric Soares.
However, the turning point of the game came in the 87th minute, when Manchester United’s lack of communication in the penalty box – on who should be marking which Saints player – turned out to be a criminal error, leaving debutant Charlie Austin completely unmarked from around 10 yards to head home and give Southampton a marquee victory at Old Trafford and start off a series of boos from the Old Trafford faithful. United’s failure in brushing up their defensive basics cost them in the end – not that they didn’t deserve it.
#4 Manchester United\'s poor finishing a worrying sign
Manchester United’s failure to step up as an attacking force has not been helped by some average finishing even when they do manage to unsettle the opposition defence. Jesse Lingard and Wayne Rooney were culprits of the same on Saturday – unable to apply the finishing touch after some dangerous approach play to create some space in Southampton’s penalty area. While Wayne Rooney’s shot after cutting through Virgil van Dijk from the left said hello to the corner flag, Jesse Lingard’s left-footed strike with a clear view of goal was scuffed well-wide, despite a deflection off Ander Herrera which took it slightly closer to Fraser Forster in goal. To win games, teams need to finish off chances, and Manchester United are struggling in that aspect at present.
#5 What now for Louis van Gaal?
It looked like Manchester United had brought their title-fight back on track thanks to an unbeaten 2016 until Saturday’s fixture. All that optimism, however, seemed to have evaporated with another performance missing the attacking spirit Old Trafford has been accustomed to viewing over the years. If getting booed off at half-time wasn’t enough, then cries from Manchester United fans towards the Old Trafford director’s box to get rid of Louis van Gaal following the goal was obvious evidence that they could not bear with this sort of mediocrity their squad has been reduced to under the Dutchman.
Failure to create enough goal-scoring chances and a fatal defensive error means that Louis van Gaal’s race looks nearly run. With Pep Guardiola knocking on the Premier League door, it looks almost certain that van Gaal will not see it through his 3-year contract he signed with the Red Devils in 2014 if performances continue like this.
