Southampton 0 Man Utd 1: Romelu Lukaku strikes again but United fans ignore pleas to stop singing offensive song

Jose Mourinho tapped Mauricio Pellegrino on the arm and clasped hands with a rather surprised Southampton manager before bidding his farewell individually to each of the home team’s staff and then walking, with a studied air of disdain, away from his bench at St Mary’s Stadium.

The game had not yet finished and this was not one of Mournho’s usual pre-final whistle stunts, rather the Manchester United manager had been sent off, which did at least allow him to bask in the place he loves to be. That being right in the spotlight, and with his team just one goal up and Southampton having hammered on the door all second half, it could not be discounted that Mourinho had cooked this one up.

He encroached on the pitch when Southampton flooded forward in injury-time, the United manager frantically pointing his players into the positions he wanted them. He then styled it out as heat-of-the-moment stuff, wrapping a friendly arm around the waist of Mike Jones, the fourth official, but it was too late. Jones had already summoned Pawson over via the headset and the United manger was invited to spend the final few moments watching from the stands.

It had been a strange afternoon for his team, who took the lead in the first 20 minutes through Romelu Lukaku, looked comfortable before the break, and then back came Saints led by Gabonese midfielder Mario Lemina, the man of the match. With 20 minutes left, Mourinho switched to a five-man defence and gave up any pretence of trying to press Southampton higher up the pitch, instead inviting the pressure upon his back line and relying upon them holding out.

The sixth league goal of the season for Lukaku came during a first half in which United fans returned to the song about their new striker that club and player had asked them not to sing. The song, rightly condemned for its racial stereotyping of Lukaku, and with its clunking “24-inch penis” line, still seems acceptable to a worrying number of the club’s supporters. It was followed by a burst of “We’re Man United, we’ll sing what we want” and then it was not heard again, in its place something uncontentious about the Belgian No 9.

United said after the game that they had a “zero tolerance stance on offensive chanting and behaviour” and would identify the fans responsible from CCTV. “The club and player have been clear in asking for an end to the chant. The club has worked with relevant bodies and supporters groups in trying to eradicate any offensive behaviour and will take further action against individuals if this continues. The club, in discussion with the police, has asked for CCTV footage from Southampton and will try to identify those who disrespected the player's wishes not to sing the song." 

Mourinho chose not to condemn the fans afterwards for the song, instead saying that he only hears “the music” during the game if it happens to be about him – “when they tell Mourinho to go to a place”. As for the dismissal, Mourinho claimed innocence of why it had even occurred, although as ever with him, there’s nothing without a reason. “I don't know” he said when asked to explain the events. “I don't know. Craig told me to leave, and I left.”

Lukaku’s goal came from an Ashley Young cross from the left, the winger mystifyingly shown onto his right foot by Dusan Tadic and lofting a nice ball for the striker to attack. The Dutch international Wesley Hoedt, excellent the previous week at Selhurst Park, seemed to lose his footing at the crucial moment and Lukaku leapt over him to connect for a good header. Fraser Forster saved well and Lukaku tidied up the rebound for the game’s only goal.

Before the break, Southampton just about matched United in every area of the pitch apart from when it came to Saints turning decent possession into a goal threat. Shane Long, a success against Palace, led the line, hustling and closing down, but his side never really looked like scoring. In midfield, Lemina was very much at home in exulted company and nothing tried by Marouane Fellaini, in place of the injured Paul Pogba, could put Saints’ record signing off his game.

The game had begun with the club introducing to the crowd their new majority shareholder, Gao Jisheng of Lander Holdings, who paid £210 million for an 80 per cent stake. The Chinese businessman, flanked by the pair of chairman Ralph Krueger and former controlling-stake owner Katharina Liebherr, looked thrilled and he will have appreciated a brave second-half performance.

Pellegrino said that his side had competed well, although they do lack that goal threat. “Every single game is different,” he said. “But, for me, to play in this way with this spirit, with this football, we'll win more games than we lose. I am sure. This is the best thing for us. We have to continue in this way.”

There were three good chances for Oriol Romeu which the Spanish midfielder failed to convert. Pellegrino sent on Manolo Gabbiadini in place of Steven Davis and moved Long to the left, finally bringing on Charlie Austin too. It was then that Mourinho switched to a five-man defence and in his post-match comments he seemed a little guilty having criticised others in the past for doing the same.

“We did for 20 minutes what the majority of the Premier League teams are doing, which is to play defensively with five at the back,” he said. “We had chances to kill the game and score the second goal, but didn't. And then, honestly, I felt Southampton were strong. I felt the manager enthusiastic, excited, risking, bringing two strikers like Gabbiadini and Austin to play direct, and also in a style that isn't normally their style. So I made the decision to bring on Smalling and the team were solid, good solidarity, organisation and spirit, and amazing points.”

Mourinho also suggested that the south coast sunshine had drained his players, so unused to it are they in Manchester. His players had to battle hard for this win but they have kept pace with Manchester City for now.

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4:56PM

Full time: Southampton 0 Manchester United 1

United had a real job on their hands there and Southampton will feel that they could have got something with a second half performance in which they were well on top.

Southampton have a lot of nice players but no real goal threat. Looks at how their front four today got on last season: Nathan Redmond top scored with just seven in the League, three for Long, three for Tadic, ZERO for Davis. They created chances today against a patchy United side but couldn't capitalise.

United themselves seemed strangely cowed, their best moments all coming on the break via Mkhitaryan and Lukaku. Still, a win is a win. 

Sam Wallace's match report will be up presently.

4:54PM

Time on ball (at full time)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

4:54PM

Average touch positions (full time)

Average touch positions (full time)

4:52PM

Off! José Mourinho sent to the stands

The Man Utd manager has said too much and Craig Pawson orders him from the dugout.

With time all-but up, Southampton have a corner. And maybe one last chance? But the referee is being summoned over to the technical area. Jose Mourinho has been sent to the stands. He goes over to the Southampton bench and shakes hands with everyone who will go near him. HA. A wind-up master at work.

4:52PM

90+ mins

United bring on Blind for Rashford.

4:52PM

89 mins

Bit of a delay, Jones has had a bang on his handsome head.

United try to eat up as much time as possible.

4:48PM

86 mins

It's symptomatic of how badly United are struggling to hold on that Herrera has picked up a yellow for kicking the ball away, presumably an attempt to waste time.

4:48PM

84 mins

Redmond brushes past Jones, who goes down. Redmond is furious with the officials.

4:41PM

82 mins

Cedric off. Ward-Prowse on. And what's more...

4:41PM

81 mins

Lukaku has barrelled into Lemina and has no complaints about his yellow.

4:40PM

79 mins

But Herrera should have settled it! United hit on the break. He has time to pick his spot, but he fires over.

4:37PM

77 mins

Ooooh that is so close. Saints best move. Wonderful intricate move as Gabbiadini links with Tadic, onto Romeu, who bursts into the area and fires tantalisingly wide of the post.

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Pass: Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Antonio Valencia, 28 min)

4:34PM

Time on ball (60 - 75 min)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

4:34PM

74 mins

Davis off. Gabbiadini is on. Jose responds by taking off Mkhitaryan and bringing on an extra defender: Smalling. United seem bent on merely hanging on.

4:29PM

69 mins

Valencia loses his footing and ends up, through no fault of his own, effecting a vicious sliding tackle on Davis! He's booked.

4:25PM

65 mins

But the game opens up here! Southampton are out of position, Mkhitaryan breaks and slips it to Lukaku. He hits the target on the narrow side, but the keeper denies him. Would have expected him to score there.

4:22PM

60 mins

Been all Southampton so far this half. Mourinho responds by giving Mata the hook and bringing on Herrera to buttress his midfield.

4:20PM

Time on ball (45 - 60 min)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

4:19PM

59 mins

Redmond involved again, gets down the left. Floaty cross. Long rises to meet it but he always had a lot to do and he cannot make the header tell.

Miss: Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Shane Long, 60 min)

4:16PM

55 mins

Redmond cuts inside and hits a shot but it's straight at the keeper.

Attempt Saved: Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Nathan Redmond, 57 min)

4:10PM

51 mins

Tadic is set free but wants a little too long on the ball. He comes away with the consolation prize of a corner. BUNDLE!!! It eventually drops to Romeu, who somehow contrives to miss the target from six yards. Wouldn't have thought it possible.

4:09PM

50 mins

Great break from Rashford, finds Lukaku, who is denied by Hoedt.

4:08PM

49 mins

Corner into the United box, bodies tumbling all over the place. Good luck to the ref solving that little puzzle. NO penalty.

4:04PM

46 mins

Second half, and it's United on the front foot as we kick off.

3:52PM

Half time: Southampton 0 Manchester United 1

Southampton nice on the ball but are not willing/able to commit enough resources forward to support the isolated Shane Long. And I can see their dilemma: United look really dangerous on the break, with the power of Lukaku, the angles of Mkhitaryan and the flyer Young down the left. Young crossed it for Lukaku for the goal. Fellaini, incidentally, might well have had a penalty when he was hauled down at a corner, and a more delicate-looking chap than Marouane would probably have got the decision.

3:49PM

Time on ball (first half)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

3:49PM

Average touch positions (half time)

Average touch positions (half time)

3:48PM

45 mins

Tadic has been bright and busy, involved in a duel here for the ball with Big Marouane. Tadic wins himself a corner, but it's cleared, and that is the half.

3:47PM

44 mins

Lukaku with a powerful run, holding off a tackler a bit like a rugger player with a hand-off. Crosses with Rashford lurking but it's cut out.

3:46PM

42 mins

Ashley Young into the book, foul on Tadic.

3:41PM

Man Utd defence unworried so far

Southampton have not been posing a threat in the final third.

Southampton vs Man Utd

3:39PM

37 mins

Long has brought Fellaini down, raking the studs down his calf, I think, although it was hard to tell exactly what happened. Either way, Long is in the book, Fellaini is in real pain and has limped to the touchline for treatment.

3:37PM

35 mins

The pace, power and directness of Lukaku + the verve and angles of Mkhitaryan's runs are making United a scrary proposition on the break. They look proper menacing.

3:35PM

Time on ball (15 - 30 min)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

3:34PM

32 mins

Lemina and Mkhitaryan shoulder to shoulder in the Saints box. Cleared, no foul.

3:32PM

30 mins

Nathan Redmond, still searching for his first goal of the season, has hit the target.

Attempt Saved: Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Nathan Redmond, 28 min)

3:28PM

Dong song sing song ding dong

3:27PM

25 mins

Saints try to hit back

Attempt Saved: Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Mario Lemina, 23 min)

3:26PM

24 mins

Southampton had been doing pretty well. What have they got?

3:25PM

Lukaku: what a signing

He's scored in every match he's played this season bar one for club and country.

3:20PM

GOAL! Manchester United and it's Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku scores for Man Utd to make it 0-1!

Ashley Young gets to the byline and crosses. The big Belgian meets it with a bullet header. Excellent reaction save from Fraser F. But it rebounds straight to Lukaku, who smashes home from six yards.

Southampton 0 - 1 Man Utd (Romelu Lukaku, 20 min)

3:19PM

18 mins

Mourinho looks sullen and, well, bored on the touchline, slumped in a big chair.

3:18PM

17 mins

Lukaku putting himself about, frees Mkhi, but Saints are alive to the danger.

3:18PM

15 mins

Shane Long isolated up top, putting in a solid shift, but Saints need to get runners up around him.

3:15PM

Time on ball (0 - 15 min)

Possession: Southampton vs Man Utd

3:14PM

11 mins

Fellaini and Hoedt in a grapplin' match as the ball comes into the Saints area for a corner. Fellaini more sinned against than sinning there.

3:12PM

8 mins

Really nice move from the Saints, good link up sends Bertrand clear down the left. Crosses. Corner. That corner then drops for Nathan Redmond, who fires over.

3:10PM

Southampton threaten for the first time

Following the earlier Man Utd effort, Southampton register their first attempt at goal.

Southampton vs Man Utd shots on goal

3:06PM

4 mins

Tadic nearly bundles through the United defence, tumbling and stumbling. Wants a freekick on the edge of the area. Denied. United break, go up the other end, and have a weak shot: HenrikhMkhitaryan hitting the target but not in any danger of scoring.

3:06PM

3 mins

One of United's Title rivals, Chelsea, have got off to a flyer. Morata has given them the lead after 81 seconds at Stoke.

3:01PM

1 mins

Southampton kick off. The Saints the first side to get the ball down and play. But the game is stopped: Tadic, with a high foot, has caught Ashley Young in the chest.

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3:01PM

Those teams again

Southampton: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Bertrand, Romeu, Lemina, Tadic, Davis, Redmond, Long.  Subs: Austin, McCarthy, Ward-Prowse, van Dijk, Gabbiadini, Hojbjerg, Pied.

Man Utd: de Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Young, Fellaini, Matic, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku.  Subs: Martial, Smalling, Lingard, Carrick, Blind, Romero, Ander Herrera.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

3:00PM

Looks like a 4-2-3-1 for the hosts

Long up front with Tadic, Redmond and Davis the captain behind him. 

The visitors go with Lukaku up front, then Mata, Mkhi and Rashford. Matic and Fellaini in the centre.

2:57PM

The players are in the tunnel

It's a lovely day on the South Coast.

2:56PM

Prepare

2:38PM

Support far and wide

2:38PM

A lot of United fans having travel trouble

2:36PM

At the other end of the football league glamour scale

25 quid's a lot, innit?

2:26PM

Big Virgil

Virgil is still on the bench, not quite ready for a start just yet.

2:14PM

Team news

2:03PM

Match preview

What is it?

Manchester United travel to Southampton trying to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season. 

When is it?

The match is on Saturday afternoon.

What time is kick-off?

The action at St Mary's gets under way at 3pm. 

What TV channel is it on?

The game is not available to watch live on television due to the three o'clock blackout, so Southampton and United fans should return here for our live blog that will follow every kick. 

What is the team news?

Defender Virgil van Dijk could make his first start in eight months against United, following a summer of endless speculation about his future.

The Holland international, who had been unavailable after suffering a serious foot injury in January and then handing in a transfer request, made his first-team return as a substitute against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Defender Matt Targett is a doubt with an ankle problem but Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who missed the game against Palace due to the birth of his daughter, is back in contention.

Pick your Southampton team to face Manchester United

Marcos Rojo and Paul Pogba are United's major first-team absentees. The France midfielders is expected to be out for at least two months after tearing his hamstring against Basel in the Champions League. 

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have both excelled on the left flank of United's attack, and will be battling it out for a starting spot at Southampton.

Axel Tuanzebe is still nursing a back problem while Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues his rehabilitation from a knee ligament injury. 

Pick your Manchester United team to face Southampton

What are they saying?

Mauricio Pellegrino: 

When we play against the biggest team in the world, it allows us to draw some conclusions about how we are.

This is for me the nice challenge and we have to strive for this.

Playing against Manchester United is one of the most beautiful things. I will live this opportunity, I will live this game, and now we have to try to enjoy this game.

Jose Mourinho: 

It is very difficult but it means it will be easier later. If we play now CSKA in Moscow and Benfica in Lisbon then later we will play at Old Trafford.

If we have consecutive matches away, it means later we will play them at Old Trafford so I am never too worried. The number of matches in the league is going to be the same.

If we cannot win we try to get points and then try to compensate with good form at home.

What does the table look like? 

What are the odds?

• Southampton 9/2

• Man Utd 10/13

• Draw 9/4

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What's our prediction?

Are United really as good as three 4-0 wins suggest? That is the question to be answered over the coming weeks, starting with a trip to a competent Southampton team. Under Mauricio Pellegrino, they are still struggling for goals but Steven Davis, Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu are a fine midfield trio who will test a United team missing Pogba in this area. Lemina, a summer signing from Juventus, was particularly impressive in Southampton's win at Crystal Palace.

This will be United's hardest league match so far, but we fancy one of their attacking substitutes to make the difference. 

Verdict: Southampton 1 Man Utd 2