After sweeping Leeds United away on the opening day of the season by 5 goals to 1, Manchester United failed to replicate their performance against the Saints who lost to Everton by 3 goals to 1 on the opening day of the season as well. United lacked precision, accuracy and speed.
There was no urgency in their game and they were sloppy on the ball. Mistakes upon mistakes led to more pressure on the back and Southampton pounced and punished United. Southampton could have gotten a win if not for the brilliance of David De Gea. Both teams settled for a point apiece and it was an improved showing on the part of Southampton but the same cannot be said regarding Manchester United who failed to turn up despite having abundance of wealth in the line up and the bench.
Antony Marital cut a frustrated figure as he was invisible almost through out the match. United couldn't hold the ball well and at some point, they controlled the game only to relinquish control to the Saints who did everything to get their first win of the current campaign but couldn't. They both settled for a 1-1 draw.
United should have gotten a goal do early on when a brilliant Bruno's freekick into the box from the right hand side caused problem for the Saints. Lindelof, Maguire and Pogba all missed and the ball dropped on the crossbar with all the scrambles. Martial had the chance to head the ball into the back of the net but his effort was cleared off the line to a huge sigh of relief from the Saints.
In the 30th minute, Fernandes was bundled off the ball and brilliant interplays of passes occurred for the Saints as the ball was given to Adams whose attempted curling effort into the far bottom left corner of the post was deflected into the back of the net by the feet of Fred. Southampton got their first goal and it was registered as an own goal. It didn't matter because at least, they got ahead.
United maintained 27 games unbeaten run on the road last season and being on the road again, they didn't want to go down without a fight even though they didn't show as much fight as you'd expect after setting the bar so high against Leeds. Wonderful exchanges between Bruno Fernandes and Pogba led to Pogba poking a pass into the path of Mason Greenwood and his shot, despite not being struck cleanly, still managed to find the back of the net after getting past in between the legs of the goalkeeper to draw United level.
Pogba, who was lively throughout the match failed to increase the scoreline for United after his brilliant skill displaced his markers and he missed hitting the target by just a fraction. What a goal it would have been had it gone in. Not too long after, Bruno Fernandes had his header saved by the goalkeeper after the ball found his head perfectly. The ball didn't lack power but surely lacked direction.
Another sloppy play from United saw Maguire bundled off the ball as Armstrong was found right inside the box. He went for placement and not power but David De Gea was equal to the task as he saved his shot much to the disappointment of the hopeful Saints.
The game ended 1-1 and United need to buckle up because if they want to mount a serious title challenge, these are the kind of games they should be winning. Losing too many points at home last season and against unexpected opponents caused their downfall for a serious title challenge and they need to improve on that in the current campaign. It's only a draw but it's a huge victory for the Saints after their opening day heartbreak and they deserved the point.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
