Yesterday United did something they didn’t do once last season, they showed that fighting spirit and that belief that they are never beaten till the end. Coming from 2-1 down with just five minutes to play, they ended up winning the game 3-2 thanks to a special hat trick from Robin van Persie.
United were once again questionable at the back though, Vidic still is nowhere near his best after his long injury lay-off, and both full-backs were each at fault for one of the goals we conceded. It was nice to see that ‘never say die’ attitude return to the team though, winning three points that could be vital come May.
Starting XIs
Southampton: Davis; Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; Puncheon, Davis, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, Lallana; Lambert
Subs: Gazzaniga, Rodriguez, Lee, Guly, Richardson, Mayuka, Seabourne
Manchester United: Lindegaard; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Welbeck; Kagawa; Van Persie
Subs: De Gea, Evans, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell
The game started with United pressing, we kept the ball well and our passing was excellent for the first 10 minutes or so, Carrick lifted a delightful ball over the top of the defence which RVP brought down on his chest before firing wide. Then in the 16th minute Southampton had their first real chance, a cross was aimed at the back post, Ricky Lambert out jumped Rafael and headed home from 8 yards out.
After going behind United went on the attack again, and we were level 7 minutes later, Antonio Valencia floated a ball over to the back post and Van Persie fired one across Kelvin Davis’ goal making it 1-1. The rest of the first half was controlled by United, with no real clear cut chances falling to either side.
The second half started with the Saints on top, and they got their reward shortly after, Evra slipped at the back post at the vital moment, allowing Morgan Schneiderlin a free header which he coolly tucked past Lindegaard in the United goal, 2-1 Southampton. Then on the hour mark came the game-changing substitution. Paul Scholes was brought on to replace Tom Cleverley, the maestro was pinging passes all over the show and he was causing real problems to the Southampton back four. Some dodgy kicking from Kelvin Davis resulted in Nani playing Van Persie in, the Dutchman was brought down in the penalty area and the referee had no choice but to give it. RVP stepped up and tries the cheeky chipped penalty down the middle, it goes horribly wrong allowing Davis to save easily down low.
At this point your thinking it just isn’t going to be United’s day, but we kept pressing and attacking and we got the equaliser in the 87th minute, Rio Ferdinand headed the ball at goal and it cannoned back off the post, RVP was the first to react and he tapped home from two yards out with just three minutes remaining. United went on the attack again, time was quickly running out, and late into injury time Nani floated in a corner which the Dutchman attacked with a fierce header that found the back of the net, Robin van Persie had spared himself of Fergie’s famous hairdryer.
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