'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A brace from Manchester United’s record teenage signing, Anthony Martial helped Manchester United to a 3-2 away win over Southampton at St. Mary’s on Sunday afternoon.
The Frenchman’s cool finish in the first half brought the red devils back on level terms after Graziano Pelle had given the Saints an early lead in the 13th minute. However, the Frenchman wasn’t done as he quickly put Louis van Gaal’s men in the lead, pouncing on an erroneous back pass from Maya Yoshida early in the second-half.
Juan Mata effectively sealed the fate of the game with his 68th-minute strike. But a second from Pelle with 5 minutes to go in the game, ensured that the final moments in the game were nervy ones.
So how did each one of the players in the game? Here is the rating for each of the players that took to the field.
Southampton
Maarten Stekelenburg (6/10)
Could hardly be blamed for the goals. Had hardly much to do otherwise.
Maya Yoshida (3.5/10)
His error in the second -half gave all the momentum to Manchester United leading to the second goal. The visitors never looked back from there.
Jose Fonte (4.5/10)
Had a few shaky moments and probably could have done a bit more to prevent Manchester United’s opener. Too easily shaken off by Memphis for United’s third. Could have so easily got Southampton back into the game with his glancing header had it not been for a brilliant David De Gea save.
Virgil van Dijk (6/10)
Took one for the team in his booking when he stopped an early counter. Looked sure-footed in his home debut for the Saints. Bailed out Fonte on a number of occasions.
Matt Targett (6/10)
Injury caused an early exit to the game for the English youngster. With Juan Mata cutting in from the right, he had a relatively nonplussed afternoon till then.
Victor Wanyama (5/10)
Sometimes looked like a one man army in the Southampton midfield. A vicious strike towards the end of the game from the Kenyan could have easily secured a vital point for the Saints if not for another brilliant save from David De G
Oriol Romeu (5/10)
Was given the responsibility of thwarting any agenda Manchester United had in the middle of the park. After a bright opening twenty minutes, he faded away.
James Ward-Prowse (6/10)
Provided some superb balls in the opening minutes. It was his superb ball that set up the opener. Fizzled as the game wore on.
Sadio Mane (7.5/10)
Looked like the game changer in the opening half an hour, but never had quite the same impact when moved to the right. Had two assists to his name, though.
Dusan Tadic (6/10)
Another one in red and white who seemed unplayable to begin with but never could sustain the same level of play throughout the ninety.
Graziano Pelle (7/10)
Manhandled the Manchester United backline at time in the opening minutes when Southampton were in the ascendency. Opened the scoring and could and should have added to his tally a few minutes later. Another trademark headed goal from him ensured a nervy finish.
Subs:
Steve Davis (6/10)
Replaced the underperforming Romeu in the second-half and did a much better job at it.
Cuco Martina (5/10)
Never really settle down into the game at left-back after replacing Targett because of an injury.
Shane Long: (NA)
Wasn’t afforded the minutes to really exert himself on the proceedings.
Manchester United
David de Gea (8.5/10)
Reminded us yet again why he is considered to be one of the best if not the best keeper in the world. Two great saves helped Manchester United to a hard-fought away victory on Sunday.
Matteo Darmian (5.5/10)
Looked shaky in the opening minutes as Tadic seemed to have his dancing boots on. Grew back into the game, but never the offensive threat that he is usually.
Chris Smalling (6/10)
Like most of the backline looked shaky in the early proceeding. Was lucky to escape unscathed after his aimless clearance ended with Pelle only hitting the post. To his credit, didn’ t do much wrong afterwards.
Marcos Rojo (6/10)
Ward-Prowse handed him a torrid opening twenty minutes. With Mane up against him for the latter part of the contest, seemed to grow back into the game.
Daley Blind (5/10)
He surely is not the classic centre-back and you could hardly fault him for not being able to cope up with the physicality of Pelle early in the game. The Italian toyed with Blind in the opening minutes. He did well to keep his composure for most of the game.
Morgan Schneiderlin (7/10)
Not the greatest on the eye but another effective performance from the Frenchman. Made three crucial interceptions and had a pass accuracy of 95%. Was lucky not to end up in the referee’s book on his return to St. Mary’s.
Michael Carrick (6/10)
Failed to pick up Mane’s run for Southampton’s opener. Mane was a handful for both him and Schneiderlein in the opening minutes. Would have breathed a sigh of relief when he was pushed out wide.
Juan Mata (7/10)
Seemed to be United’s only spark of creativity int eh early goings. Ended up with an assist for the first goal, though he should have been flagged offside and a crucial third for the away team that sealed the fate of the game.
Memphis Depay (5.5/10)
Another outing and another ninety minutes that was stricken with inconsistency and glimpses of the talent that he possesses. Missed a great opportunity in the first half from Juan Mata’s cross, and then went on to slam his shot against the post prior to the third goal.
Wayne Rooney (5/10)
Back after his two-game absence and still the long goal drought continued. Looked ill at ease again in the withdrawn role.
Anthony Martial (9/10) – Man of the match
He might not yet be worth “every penny” as Martin Tyler exclaimed last week, but he is certainly putting his mark on the table. He has three goals in two now and certainly possesses the cool and composed head that every goalscorer needs. The signs are surely promising.
Subs:
Antonio Valencia (6/10)
Replaced Darmian at the break and provided a much better option going forward in this one.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (7/10)
Introduced near the hour mark in place of Carrick and brought in renewed energy in the middle. Made crucial interceptions and dominated the midfield.
Paddy McNair (4/10)
Replaced Rojo late on and took over the central defensive duties from Daley Blind. Could have give Pelle a more robust challenge when the Italian rose to head home his and Southampton’s second
