Southampton 1-2 Manchester United- BPL Game 15
Manchester United edged past Southampton to record their fifth win on the bounce as Robin Van Persie lifted his team to three points.
With Ronald Koeman and Louis Van Gaal having previous bad history. It was thankful to everyone that the Master Dutchman Louis Van Gaal crowned himself the winner of this all Dutch clash.
Both teams started with a lack of urgency and neither really threatened each other's defences. However on 12 minutes Jòse Fonte missed placed back passed had allowed Robin Van Persie into the box and slot past Frasier Forster.
A fair from deserved lead was then interjected when Southampton dominated the first half and were given glimpses of hope.
Southampton did draw back level on 31 minutes when a misplaced Maraoune Fellaini pass in the centre had lead onto Pelle putting a scrappy scramble past David De Gea.
Fellaini's first half performance was lacklustre, sloppy and quiet honestly poor he may have been lucky not to be subbed off by Louis Van Gaal.
In no way Manchester United had taken control and were pinned back onto the back foot with Southampton trying to edge into a commanding position.
The same vain continued in the second half with United not performing to the levels expected from them as the Saints pressed for a winner.
Shane Long had come the closest for the St Mary's contingent as Ashley Young's poor defensive work allowed him to float unmarked in the back post. Thankfully David the king De Gea had been on hand to keep Long out.
The winner had came from Van Persie after a looping free kick from 40 yards on the left hand side had the Flying Dutchman nutmegging Forster again and putting United ahead to win the game.
A win which may not have been deserved but it is yet again a case of three points being three points. A Robin Van Persie resurrection has yet again saved United and a win leaves us third in the table.
Louis Van Gaal:
"I think Southampton played better than Manchester United yet we were the lucky guys."
"We lost the ball too easily in the first half because our positional play wasn't good."
Line Ups:
MUFC XI-De Gea, Valencia, Smalling [Evans 18], McNair [Herrera 39], Rojo, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Juan Mata [Fletcher 88], Rooney, Van Persie.
Saints XI-Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand; Davis, Wanyama; Long [Mayuka 79], Tadic [Hesketh 70], Mane; Pelle.
Van Persie's glorious self destruction of Southampton was evident again as he claims Man of the match. His all round play was brilliant and definitely deserved to be on the end of the two United goals.
Man of the Match: Robin Van Persie
Next Game: Liverpool (H) Sun 14th December 13:30 GMT