I t may have lacked the visceral intensity of the victory over Liverpool, but it cannot be overstated how important a win this was for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United.

If never wholly on top, if lucky not to concede a penalty when the ball struck Scott McTominay on the arm not once, not twice, but three times in rapid succession, this was exactly the kind of fixture that had so frequently undermined the club in recent years. Especially as Southampton, buoyed by victory over Leicester, were beginning to build some momentum of their own.

Instead, thanks to a robust defensive display and a superb second half goal from Bruno Fernandes, Ten Hag’s side ended a sequence of seven successive league defeats with a win. The rebuild is beginning to take shape.

Never mind slipping on a banana skin United appeared to be wearing one. In the same woeful lime green outfit they had worn at Brentford, however, this time they offered an altogether more significant proposition. And that was with their new signing Casemiro only providing a fleeting 15-minute cameo as substitute.

“We saw a team on the pitch,” was Ten Hag’s assessment of the difference from their last away outing. “Organisation, fighting for each other. And we scored a wonderful goal.” 

W hat the new United manager has clearly sorted since the capitulation in west London is his defence. With Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw relegated to the bench, the backline here looked altogether more sturdy. Raphael Varane was in calm control; Lisandro Martinez snarled and snapped, at one point cleaning out the Southampton substitute Stuart Armstrong with the kind of tackle that supporters enjoy almost as much as a goal; while in Tyrell Malacia United finally appear to have found a left back

Even with such defensive resolve, however, United began cautiously, favouring a long ball that generally ended up in no man’s land. Southampton, meanwhile, were over-reliant on James Ward Prowse to deliver a pass that actually reached a team-mate. Still, both sides had chances. United really should have taken the lead in the first half, but instead of a goal, a madcap sequence of blocks and saves ensued, as efforts first from Anthony Elanga then Fernandes, then Christian Eriksen were somehow beaten away by Gavin Bazunu, Kyle Walker Peters and Armel Bella-Kotchap. 

Outstanding finish! 🎯 Bruno Fernandes finds the back of the Southampton net with a first-time finish ✅ pic.twitter.com/P9oCDRLaOA

I t soon became clear that Southampton’s German centre back was more comfortable stopping goals than scoring them when Bella-Kotchap found himself alone and unmarked in the United area as a typically precise Ward-Prowse cross arrived at his feet. Clearly unused to being in such a position, he first miscontrolled then fired over. Che Adams then did better, turning McTominay, but firing straight into David De Gea’s hands. 

“We had a lot of chances, we matched them,” said the Saints manager Ralph Hassenhutl. “All I can say is, hopefully next time we can win games like this.” 

Not that for much of the first half United looked wholly convincing. After playing so well against Liverpool, neither Marcus Rashford nor Bruno Fernandes were able to impose themselves on the game with anything approaching authority. There was a revealing moment when McTominay was brought down by Joe Aribo as he turned on the edge of the Southampton area. In Cristiano Ronaldo’s continuing absence, Eriksen and Rashford lurked, hoping to take the free kick. Fernandes, however, used the captain’s authority to overrule, then hit his shot tamely straight into the wall.  

C learly Ten Hag had words during the interval, encouraging his players to be more adventurous. Because as the second half began, they looked altogether more alert. First McTominay, cleverly played in by Eriksen, stung Bazunu’s palms. Elanga, let loose by a smart pass from Fernandes, was then stopped by a last-ditch challenge from the impressive Bella-Ketchap. Then came the critical intervention. It was a goal that clearly delighted the United manager. Rashford laid the ball off to Diogo Dalot on the wing and his cross to the edge of the area was expertly fired home by Fernandes. Quick, precise, agile: it was everything Ten Hag wants United to be

Still, it required De Gea to keep his team in the game by somehow getting his hands on to Aribo’s header. And talking of hands, much to the chagrin of the home supporters, in a challenge with Adams, the ball appeared to strike McTominay on the arms three times. Andy Madley was unmoved, and VAR ruled he was too close to the action to have been able to get out of the way. 

“It happened against Leicester,” said Hassenhutl of the apparent official refusal to award his team a spot kick. “I suppose we have to learn to live with it.”

As United went on to register successive league wins for the first time since February, Ten Hag, however, was not getting carried away.

“It is work in progress,” he said. “I saw moments in the game, some very good football. But there is a lot of room for improvement, that is quite clear.“

United’s noisy supporters, meanwhile, were in no mood to forget what had come before. As the final whistle sounded, a chant of “We want Glazers out” echoed from the visitors’ section, reinforcing the fact that widespread opposition to the club’s ownership is not driven by results. On that front at least, this was a win that changes nothing. 

B runo Fernandes' second-half strike the difference today as Manchester United record back-to-back wins for the first time since February - it's also their first clean sheet away from home since December. 

It wasn't a fantastic performance, but United dug in and there was some terrific defending towards the end when Southampton were throwing everything at them.

F red booked for bringing down Armstrong. 

Bazunu will take the free kick, everyone forward for the home side. 

M ara with a spectacular overhead kick, but it's cleared off the line by Dalot.

Moments later, Mara tries to place another one in on the volley off the in-step, but he fires over. 

M an Utd: Eriksen comes off for Fred.

Southampton: Djenepo and Aribo come off for Perraud and Lyanco.

S ix additional minutes to be played. 

S cott McTominay has gone down. He seems to twist his leg as he challenges with Lavia. It doesn't look too good for the Scotland international.

B ella-Kotchap fancies another go, a fair way out this one, but he drives it straight at Casemiro.

U nited look quite happy to sit on this lead: they've hardly created anything since the goal, inviting Southampton onto them, but the home side are failing to get much going.

Bella-Kotchap goes on a good run towards the right side of the United box, he winds up and fires towards goal, but it blazes over.

R onaldo tries to run away from Salisu, but the Southampton defender gets into gear and manages to get in front of Ronaldo to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick. 

C asemiro comes on for Elanga.

S alisu with another long throw from the left. He aims for Adams, but McTominay heads down and Elanga clears the ball into row Z.

C asemiro has taken his bib off on the far side, he'll be on any moment now.

A dam Armstrong comes off for Sekou Mara.

A break in play here as a couple of Southampton players receive treatment. Drinks all round.

Ronaldo's gone down now, holding his right knee.

W ard-Prowse with a free kick in a position a couple of metres out from the corner flag on the right. He fires it into the box, Salisu gets there and United scrap to clear. 

Southampton are certainly having a good go at this. 

C ristiano Ronaldo comes on for Jadon Sancho.

D e Gea with a brilliant reflex save. Adam Armstrong down the left dinks in a cross, Aribo gets his head on it and De Gea somehow gets to the ball and pushes it away. Ward-Prowse with a follow-up header, but he puts it over.

S tuart Armstrong comes on for Mohamed Elyounoussi

S outhampton putting some pressure on now with a couple of back-to-back corners from the right.

On the second, Ward-Prowse sends it in, Bella-Kotchap - who looks ok now after receiving treatment earlier - gets his head on it, but can only steer it over the crossbar. 

A poor ball by Dalot allows Adams to nip in. He looks to pull the ball back to Armstrong, but United are there first, firing out for a Southampton throw. Salisu tries a long throw again, but United deal with it. 

B runo Fernandes! He's smashed that into the back of the Southmapton net. 

Dalot crosses low from the right after some good work by Elanga to create the space, picking out Fernandes on the edge of the Saints' box to hit a low, powerful first time shot past Bazunu. Terrific finish, and his account opens for the season.

A brilliant tackle by Bella-Kotchap to deny Elanga deep into the box as he's played in by Fernandes. That had to be timed well - and it was. 

Bella-Kotchap has gone down and is receiving some treatment after that challenge. It'll be a blow for the Saints if he has to come off, he's been strong this afternoon.

E langa loops one over the top to McTominay. He's gone up and beyond the forwards, getting away from his man.

It's a powerful semi-volley, but is saved by Bazunu for a United corner. 

Varane gets his head on the ball, but it's high. Out for a goal kick.

U nited get us going.

A stunning sequence of blocks from Southampton defenders and saves from the goalkeeper to deny Man Utd from going ahead on 20 minutes. 

Both sides have had chances though, Che Adams - a man playing with great confidence after four goals this week - going close on more than a couple of occasions. 

M an Utd setting up a free kick in a really dangerous position, just outside the D to right.

Fernandes takes - it's a big Southampton ball, which does the job.

B ella-Kotchap uses his great strength to shepherd the ball out of play as Rashford pressures down the left from a long-ball.

W ard-Prowse tries to drill in a free kick from 40 yards, some pace on that, but Martinez is able to powerfully head away.

C he Adams makes a blindside run onto a threaded ball in behind Martinez, and he gets onto it.

But he's off-balance and could only stroke the ball towards goal. De Gea is able to pounce and save.

Adams comes again, Bazunu going route-one, it's on the semi-volley, but this time he fires over. Adams is playing with real confidence out there and providing plenty of problems for the United back four. 

D jenepo is doing very well against Elanga on Southampton's left. He's snuffing him out on every attack so far, winning on the chases.

Eriksen sends a ball in from the left corner of the Saints box, well-placed, but Fernandes again can't quite reach it. 

W ard-Prowse sends in a wonderfully-placed corner from the right. 

The ball lands in the area at the far post, Bella-Kotchap gets a touch on it to semi-control the ball and is then forced to shoot as he falls. In the end he's so far under it and the ball goes flying over the crossbar. Golden opportunity for Southampton to go ahead and for Bella-Kotchap to get his first goal for the Saints.

A good spell for the home side here.

C he Adams climbs over McTominay from another Walker-Peters cross on the right and heads towards de Gea's goal, but it loops over and lands on the roof of the net - just enough pressure on him there from the United defence. 

S ancho hauls down Bella-Kotchap on the United attack down the left, allowing Bazunu to hoof up. 

I ncredible defending from Southampton to deny three follow-up shots from Eriksen, Elanga and Fernandes.

A stunning passage of play with the likes of Ward-Prowse, Bazunu and Bella-Kotchap all putting their bodies on the line. The ball eventually goes out for a corner, with a standing ovation from the crowd - rightly so, the Saints can take a bow for that passage of play.

A nother chipped cross by Walker-Peters as Southampton have a period of attacking possession, looking for chinks in the United armour.

It's been quite easy for Southampton to get crosses in so far - Varane is able to powerfully head this latest away.

W alker-Peters floats one into the United box. He's aiming for Adams, who can't get to it, but it comes Adam Armstrong who gets his head on it, on target, but without the necessary pace. Comfortable for de Gea.

D alot pings a ball into the box after skinning Djenepo.

It's a nicely dinked cross, but Fernandes can't quite get there. Best chance yet. 

A ribo gets through McTominay in the United box, but the United defence manages to mop up.

It came from an initial Ward-Prowse run down the right on the counter following Djenepo's dispossession of Sancho. 

U nited are probing down the right-hand side, but they can't find a way into the host's box yet. Early days.

S outhampton with an early attack from kick off - they go straight back to Bazunu who hoofs it up towards the United box in an attempt to test the back four.

They're targeting Che Adams against Martinez on the left side of United's central defence.

S outhampton get us under way. 

Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire) officiates today.

C ristiano Ronaldo was also on the bench that day.

S outhampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Kotchap, Salisu, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Aribo, Elyounoussi, Adam Armstrong, Adams.

Subs: McCarthy, Lyanco, Romeu, Perraud, Stuart Armstrong, Mara, Diallo, Bednarek, Valery.

Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, McTominay, Eriksen, Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Elanga, Rashford.

Subs: Casemiro, Maguire, Ronaldo, Fred, Heaton, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Van de Beek, Garnacho.

C he Adams comes in for the Saints. He's scored four goals this week; braces against Leicester and Cambridge.

T hat's the one they wore against Brentford in the 4-0 defeat...

S outhampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Kotchap, Salisu, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Aribo, Elyounoussi, Adam Armstrong, Adams. Subs: McCarthy, Lyanco, Romeu, Perraud, Stuart Armstrong, Mara, Diallo, Bednarek, Valery.

Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia, McTominay, Eriksen, Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Elanga, Rashford. Subs: Casemiro, Maguire, Ronaldo, Fred, Heaton, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Van de Beek, Garnacho.

Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)

G ood morning and welcome to an action-packed day of Premier League action.

First up is Southampton against Manchester United at St Mary's.

United manager Erik ten Hag has said Harry Maguire's position as club captain will not guarantee him a spot in the team, especially when they have Raphael Varane as an option in defence.

Maguire was dropped in favour of Varane, a World Cup winner with France, in United's morale-boosting 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool on Monday, and the England international has also been linked with a move to rivals Chelsea.

"I think that doesn't mean when you are captain you are established to always play," Ten Hag told reporters ahead of Saturday's league trip to Southampton. "Especially when you also have Varane in your squad. We have options.

"Varane, his stature is immense and in pre-season, we took a decision to build him physically so he had a bit of a slow start.

"You see when the team needed him he was really there (against Liverpool) and his profile, his stature and what he won already in the past shows he can really contribute to his team. For the team there is competition and we need that."

Maguire started United's first two games of the season, where they suffered a 2-1 loss at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and a 4-0 defeat at Brentford. The team are 14th in the league after three games.

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