Red Devils drop two golden points against Southampton

At St Mary's, Manchester United failed to build on last weekend's 5-1 demolition of Leeds.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side needed a Mason Greenwood equaliser to rescue a point after Fred's own goal.

While United left the south-coast frustrated, they did equal Arsenal's English top-flight record of 27 successive away league games without defeat.

When Southampton last met United in February, their humiliating 9-0 defeat ranked as the joint heaviest loss in Premier League history.

There was never any chance of a repeat as the Saints competed well and took a controversial lead in the 30th minute.

Bruno Fernandes felt he was fouled when a barge from Jack Stephens left the United midfielder in a heap but referee Craig Pawson waved play on.

Moussa Djenepo and Adam Armstrong worked the ball to Che Adams on the edge of the United area and his shot deflected off Fred's out-stretched boot as it flashed past David De Gea.

Last season, United recovered 15 points when losing at half-time, coming from behind to win on five occasions.

They staged another second half fightback as Greenwood equalised in the 55th minute, firing under home keeper Alex McCarthy from 12 yards after Paul Pogba poked the ball into the teenager's path.

England forward Jadon Sancho came off the bench for his second United appearance after making his debut against Leeds following his £73 million move from Borussia Dortmund.

Pogba shot just wide and McCarthy saved Fernandes' header, but it was Southampton who should have won it when Armstrong sent a close-range effort too close to De Gea.

 

August 22, 2021

 

August 22, 2021