Manchester United defeated Southampton 2-1 in blustery conditions at Carrington, to pick up three valuable Premier League 2 points.
After a goalless first half, the Reds took full control with two goals from Victor Musa. Both were laid on by Jack Fletcher and it proved too much for the Saints, even though they soon pulled one back through Tommy Dobson-Ventura.
However, the hosts remained in charge and probably deserved to win by a bigger margin, as the Reds climb to second place in the table, level on points with leaders Chelsea.
FIRST HALF - LEVEL PEGGING
The visitors made a confident start in an even opening, as our first-team coaching staff, including Michael Carrick, fresh from his press conference duties, watched on.
Adam Lallana's side wasted a couple of set-piece opportunities but carved out the first real attempt on goal, when William Merry volleyed over the bar from a promising position, with 15 minutes on the clock.
That came just after Jack Fletcher was unable to gather a clever pass by twin brother Tyler, with the wind not helping the situation, and most of the pushing came from United as the half wore on.
Jim Thwaites mustered our first shot on target, forcing a pretty comfortable diving save out of keeper Hugo Fisher, just past the hour mark.
A lightning break forward by Habeeb Ogunneye looked like providing the spark for the opener, and Jack Fletcher's delivery from the full-back's pass was perfect, but Victor Musa saw his shot blocked inside the area as the Saints ended up defending the danger well.
Jack Fletcher won the ball high up the field to force another stop out of Fisher, who pushed it away for a corner, and Saints skipper Dobson-Ventura made one timely block, when Jack Moorhouse tried to wriggle his way through.
With the blustery conditions causing problems, it remained goalless at the interval.
SECOND HALF - REDS TAKE THE POINTS
Southampton came out of the blocks quickly, with Thierry Rohart-Brown and Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh forcing saves out of Will Murdock.
However, it was United who opened the scoring, on 49 minutes, after Jayce Fitzgerald was fouled on the left flank. Jack Fletcher swung over an inviting free-kick and Musa applied the finishing touch with a clinical header.
Ten minutes later, the lead was doubled with Fitzgerald's persistence a key factor behind the goal. The midfielder managed to poke the ball to Jack Fletcher and he unselfishly teed up Musa for a simple tap-in at the far post for 2-0.
The Saints pulled one back from a set-piece when captain Dobson-Ventura saw his initial header saved superbly by Murdock, but he followed up to ram in the rebound.
It may have handed the visitors a lifeline but United continued to ask most of the questions.
Tyler Fletcher and Musa carved out a great chance for Fitzgerald, who was denied by an incredible save by Fisher to keep his team in the game. Fisher also turned away a cross-cum-shot by Jack Fletcher, while Diego Leon flashed the ball across the face of the keeper's goal.
Despite Ogunneye and Louis Jackson needing to combine to make a valuable block in the Reds' box, it looked likelier that we would extend the lead late on.
Musa almost had a hat-trick but smashed a James Overy pass against the bar and, soon afterwards, Thwaites set up Leon, who hit the outside of a post. Leon forced another stop out of Fisher from long range but it remained 2-1 and that was sufficient to earn three points for Adam Lawrence's side.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; Ogunneye, Fredricson (c) (Jackson 46), Kukonki, Leon; T. Fletcher, Thwaites, J. Fletcher (Bradbury 84); Moorhouse (McAllister 60), Fitzgerald (Overy 85); Musa.
Subs not used: Honor.
Scorer: Musa 49,59.
Booked: Fitzgerald, Thwaites.
Southampton: Fisher; Sesay, Dobson-Ventura (c), Adjei-Afriyie (Daley 46), Kayi-Sanda; Rohart-Brown, Sillah-Dibaga (Okunola 33), Kakay, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Gathercole; Merry.
Scorer: Dobson-Ventura 68.