1st Half-
Kick Off- 1’- The action gets underway at St.Mary’s…
5’- Sloppy opening 5 minutes from Southampton. Misplacing a few passes and just looking a little off the pace. If this continues the saints may well be punished by that Midfield diamond and attacking line of United.
7’- BIG let off for Saints- A ball forward that didn’t look particularly dangerous was left by Vestegaard allowing Mason Greenwood to take the ball past Alex McCarthy. From the tightest of angles, Greenwood put the ball into the side netting. Warning signs.
9’- Penalty shout for United- Rashford being crowded out in the box was just caught by James Ward-Prowse and for a moment VAR looked at it as a possible penalty. Would have been soft but it looks like Saints got away with one there.
15’- Have to say United look the better team here. It’s a slow start for the Saints. Slightly uncharacteristic of late.
17’- James Ward-Prowse given a yellow card early on for an accumulation of fouls. This is going to be a long afternoon for him to be walking on a tight rope with the referee.
22’- Best passage of play for the Saints so far- the ball won in midfield and and quick exchange between
23’- GOALLLLLLL- Completely against the run of play and Southampton have the lead. A simple corner ball from James Ward-Prowse right into the mixer and it’s nodded home by Jan Bednarek for his first goal of the season. What a response to a poor start!
27’- Southampton getting into their groove now. Kyle Walker-Peters running at Alex Telles and letting fly from just inside the area before seeing his shot deflected onto the post.
30’- HUGE DOUBLE SAVE FROM MCCARTHY- The Southampton keeper played himself into trouble with a loose pass that is picked up by Mason Greenwood. Greenwood runs at goal and unleashes a shot straight at McCarthy parried but
33’- GOOOOOALLLLL- THE FREE KICK KING STRIKES AGAIN- Ward Prowse with a free kick on the edge of the penalty area from the left hand side and curls it into the top corner, with David De Gea scrambling and parrying the ball into the goal. He picks up an injury to his knee in the process.
34’- COULD HAVE BEEN THREE- Moussa Djenepo running at a United defence all at Sea and cuts inside and curls a shot at De Gea who parries and Stuart Armstrong is punished by a heavy touch with the goal at his mercy.
39’- Southampton controlling possession and the tempo of the game now. Chalk and cheese from the opening quarter of this game.
Half Time- Southampton 2-0 Manchester United- The epitome of a half of two halves. A very slow start from the home side, giving the ball away and often being second to the ball. A few warning signs early on for Saints including Greenwood missing an open goal from a tight angle after poor defending from Jannik Vestegaard. However, it was a small passage of good play that resulted in a Southampton corner that led to the first goal. The goal seemed to turn the game on its head and all of a sudden United were all at sea. Southampton went on to control the game and another piece of free kick magic from James Ward-Prowse means that the Saints head into half time with a two goal advantage. We’ve been here before though, so if we are going to pick up all three points from this game we need to tighten up defensively and a third goal certainly wouldn’t do us any harm. Should be an intriguing 2nd half.
2nd Half-
Kick off- 45’- Double substitution at half time for Manchester United- Having picked up the knock to his knee in his attempted save David De Gea has been withdrawn and Dean Henderson makes an unexpected Premier League debut for United. Meanwhile after a unsatisfactory first half, Mason Greenwood is replaced by Edinson Cavani.
47’- Early test for Dean Henderson as Theo Walcott unleashes a strike from the edge of the box following good work from Djenepo. Should be interesting to see how he fairs coming on unexpectedly for his Prem debut for United mid game.
49’- Walcott again showing his experience by testing the substitute goalkeeper to see how alert he is. A long range strike is comfortably saved by Henderson.
52’- ANOTHER GREAT STOP- Walker-Peters dispossessed in midfield and United counter. Rashford’s pace is too much for our back line and McCarthy does brilliantly to spread himself and save from Rashford who was looking to bend it past him.
56’- Troubling times for the Saints- Fernandes does brilliantly to get to the by line and finds Donny Van De Beek who can’t get his shot away but can find Cavani who unleashes a shot which is bravely blocked by a combination of Bednarek and Djenepo. In doing so, the Southampton duo clattered into each other and Bednarek picked up a nasty looking knock. Fortunately for the Saints the Polish international is good to continue.
60’- Goal United- Saints punished for losing the ball in midfield with Bertrand the culprit this time. Cavani is allowed space on the wing and he finds Bruno Fernandes who is allowed far too much time to turn and stroke the ball home. It could be a long half an hour now…
69’- United inches away from an equaliser- A ball in from the right hand side by Aaron Wan-Bissaka finds Cavani who does excellently to get power and direction on his header but it floats just wide. The Uruguayan has changed the game though it’s fair to say.
72’- Substitution for Southampton as Shane Long is brought on to put pressure on United when they have the ball. He replaces Moussa Djenepo and Walcott drops onto the left wing allowing Long to go up top with Adams.
74’- Goal for United- Poachers effort from Cavani. Saints don’t deal with a corner and a deflected effort falls to Cavani who nods past McCarthy.
79’- Southampton reeling now, but Che Adams almost restored the advantage with a spinning shot inside the box that rolled past the post.
84’- Substitution for Manchester United as Alex Telles is replaced by a player linked with a loan move to Southampton, Brandon Williams.
90’- Substitution for Saints- the Customary late introduction for Ibrahima Diallo. He comes on to sure things up in place of Stuart Armstrong.
