Who was our Man of the Match at Southampton?
Manchester United got back to winning ways – and in style – by overcoming Southampton with a 3-0 triumph at St Mary’s Stadium.
After an even start to the contest, United saw the game’s first key moment go in our favour when Andre Onana brilliantly saved Cameron Archer’s penalty, and we were the dominant side from there onwards.
Within a couple of moments, Matthijs de Ligt and Marcus Rashford had put us two goals ahead in time for the half-time break and Alejandro Garnacho rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage-time.
In an impressive display, a number of Reds caught the eye – making for plenty of options in our official Man of the Match poll across ManUtd.com and in the United App.
Fans have been having their say following a positive day for Erik ten Hag’s side, and you can see how their voting tallied up by reading on below...
MAN OF THE MATCH
After netting his first goal for the club and helping United to a clean sheet, Matthijs de Ligt came out on top in our poll among United fans.
De Ligt was the man to swing the scoreline in our favour after Onana’s spot-kick stop, stooping to nod in a curling Bruno Fernandes cross at the back post after 35 minutes.
There were a number of expert moments of defensive work from the Dutchman, too, as we preserved our shut-out at the back and kept a second clean sheet of the campaign.
DE LIGT'S REACTION
“We were working on some set-pieces, this one was not exactly out of the book, but luckily, I was in a good spot,” De Ligt said of his headed effort, in a post-match interview with TNT Sports.
“For me, it’s really important to get a win, and then I think today I could show already a little more of what we can do.
“I am enjoying it a lot [at United]. We have a great group, amazing guys.
“I think we also have a lot of young guys who still have to grow but also want to grow. Every day on the training ground is a battle and hopefully we can get more results like this and grow as a team, because I think that’s the most important thing.”
Goalscorer De Ligt pleased to play his part
Matthijs de Ligt was delighted to get on the scoresheet and help the Reds to an important win on the south coast...
De Ligt, though, did not complete the full 90 minutes on the south coast, and clarified why he was substituted late in the contest.
“I’m fine, I just had a little cramp the last five minutes,” continued our no.4. “It’s the first time I think in probably five months that I played three times in a row.
“I wanted to play until the end, but the coach said it would be better to take me off.”
ON THE PODIUM
De Ligt was the overwhelming winner of our poll, as the chosen player of 48 per cent of fans who made their vote. However, there were three other players receiving notable recognition.
Like De Ligt, Andre Onana and Marcus Rashford made key contributions, with each player receiving 11 per cent of fans’ votes.
Onana, of course, kept out Cameron Archer from the penalty spot, and had made an impressive stop before then to deny Tyler Dibling, too. It was his save that allowed United to take a foothold in the contest, which we built on when Rashford hit our second not long before half-time – hitting a marvellous strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
Not far behind in the voting was Amad, continuing his encouraging start to the campaign. The diminutive attacker did not get a goal or assist to his name today, but was a constant thorn in the Southampton side with his input from the right flank.
Congratulations to Matthijs on winning our Man of the Match poll!