In a match between two teams managed by Dutchmen, Manchester United took the spoils as Robin van Persie’s brace took United to a rather fortuitous win in a match littered with errors from both sides.
Southampton
Fraser Forster – 4
The summer signing had little to do all evening but was at fault for both goals. The first there were questions over his indecisiveness with regards to closing down the shot whilst for the second goal Forster missed the opportunity to come and punch the ball clear.
Nathaniel Clyne – 8
One of the few bright spots of the evening, Clyne was excellent defensively preventing Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney from building any attacking momentum all evening long.
Jose Fonte – 5
Fonte made the mistake for the opening goal with a sloppy backpass which fell to Van Persie.
Maya Yoshida – 6
Yoshida had a quiet evening due to the fact he was rarely required to defend against an attack.
Ryan Bertrand – 6
Bertand was another player with little to do but made a mistake for Van Persie’s second goal by not tracking the Dutchman’s run to the back-post.
Victor Wanyama – 6
Wanyama impressed in part but the Kenyan will be disappointed he didn’t impose his will on a Manchester United midfield bereft of confidence. Tonight really was a missed opportunity for Wanyama to dominate against a top-team.
Steven Davis – 6
Davis had a quiet evening with the majority of the match passing him by. A lot of Southampton’s chances came from United mistakes so there was often very little build-up play for Davis to become involved with.
Dusan Tadic – 6
Tadic was another player who was not fully up to standard this evening. The Serbian had one opportunity to play in a centre-forward but got the weight of his pass totally wrong.
Sadio Mane – 7
Mane was a real threat for Southampton going forward. Antonio Valencia struggled to keep tabs on the elusive former Red Bull Salzburg winger and Southampton really should have got the ball to him more often. Was lucky to avoid a red-card for a very poor foul on Van Persie in injury time.
Shane Long- 6
Long will be disappointed at not taking the chances he was given tonight.
Graziano Pelle – 7
The Italian forward showed signs of a return to form and he took his goal well after some poor United defending.
Subs:
Jake Hesketh – 5 (On 70min)
The youngster had little impact on the game after his introduction.
Emmanuel Mayuka – N/A (On 80min)
Manchester United
David de Gea – 7
Despite all Southampton’s chances, De Gea actually had very little to do with his save from Shane Long’s second-half header the only one of note he had to make.
Antonio Valencia – 6
Valencia worked hard in an unnatural position. The Ecuadorian was targeted by the pace of Mane but defended well in parts.
Chris Smalling – N/A
Smalling was taken off before the 20th minute due to a groin injury.
Marcos Rojo – 7
After a difficult start in which he had to play with two different central defensive partners, Marcos Rojo settled into the match and was arguably United’s most reliable defender on the night.
Ashley Young – 7
Young continued his impressive form at left-back despite not being truly tested defensively by Southampton.
Marouane Fellaini – 5
Fellaini struggled to retain possession this evening despite being in his best run of form since he joined United last season. His lack of pace was also highlighted when United continued to lose the ball in transitional fazes.
Michael Carrick – 5
Carrick endured a difficult evening and was asked to keep switching between centre-half and defensive-midfield on numerous occasions during the evening. Ball retention was again a problem for Carrick.
Juan Mata – 6
Juan Mata had a quiet evening with the match not really suited to a player of his skill set. The Spaniard did however put in a welcome pressing effort once United had retaken the lead with twenty minutes to play.
Wayne Rooney -5
A poor performance from United’s captain littered with wayward passes. His night was epitomised by a corner which ballooned straight out of play upon contact with Rooney’s foot. Did however provide the assist for United’s winning goal from a free-kick.
Robin van Persie – 10
Van Persie had three shots with two ending up as goals, you can’t really ask any more of a centre-forward. The style of the match was not truly conducive to attacking build-up play and Van Persie took the chances presented out of nothing to him with aplomb.
Subs:
Jonny Evans – 6 (On 18min)
Evans struggled at the beginning of his return to first-team action but later settled into the match and was a key defensive component in United keeping Southampton at bay in the last ten minutes.
Ander Herrera – 5 (On 39min)
The Spaniard was introduced as part of Van Gaal’s reshuffle following Smalling’s injury. Herrera, despite having performed excellently in recent weeks, was poor in keeping possession and didn’t have any impact going forward.
Darren Fletcher – N/A (On 89min)
