Manchester United players and staff boarded a private jet at the regional airport on Friday, in order to make the short hop down to the south coast ahead of facing a struggling Southampton on Saturday evening.
However, in a rather comical turn of events, United were made to wait to take off , as a smaller vessel, carrying the name of their neighbours Manchester City, blocked their way.
The small plane, emblazone in the blue and white colour scheme of their high flying rivals, and with the name 'M-CITY' on the rear engine, was parked right in front of the United aircraft.
The flight time between Manchester and Southampton is estimated to be just under an hour.
November 30, 2018
In spite of recent poor form, United will head into Premier League the match as favourites.
Opponents Southampton have failed to pick up a single home win all season, and have shown no signs of improving their predicament in recent weeks.
Manager Mark Hughes has had the sack hanging over his head for a number of weeks now, and is likely to receive his marching orders regardless of the result this weekend.
It is being heavily rumoured that Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa is waiting in the wings to replace the Welshman.