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Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
We’ll have the team news for you momentarily.
Here’s how the table looked just four games ago…
Of course, United and Southampton’s fortunes have changed considerably since then.
“They are not playing long balls always,” says Louis van Gaal of Southampton, sounding almost as if he thinks that’s some sort of stark anomaly in the Premier League.
He also plays down the fact that — if they win tonight — United could get back into the top three for the first time since the Alex Ferguson era.
Here are tonight’s teams, with two Irish players — Shane Long and Paddy McNair — starting (while Johnny Evans is on the bench)…
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand, Wanyama, S. Davis, Tadic, Mane, Long, Pelle.
MAN UNITED: De Gea, McNair, Smalling, Rojo, Valencia, Carrick, Fellaini, Young, Mata, Rooney, van Persie.
This fixture has produced some crackers over the years.
Remember this game?
A group photograph has just been taken in memory of the Christmas Truce.
We’re underway…
Shane Long gets above Ashley Young to register the Saints’ first shot on target.
However, the Ireland international’s header goes harmlessly wide.
Do you agree?
Shane Long does look in the mood tonight, as per Noel Hunt’s tweet.
He’s just gotten another cross in and is causing Ashley Young some trouble down the right.
GOAL TO MAN UNITED!
It’s the kind of moment all defenders have nightmares about.
Jose Fonte plays a backpass short and Robin van Persie is on hand to capitalise, as he finishes coolly past Fraser Forster.
United’s bad luck at the back continues, as Chris Smalling is forced off with an injury.
The visitors’ defence now features two Northern Ireland players though, as the newly fit Johnny Evans comes into the action.
It’s been relatively quiet since the goal.
Southampton have played reasonably well in the first 20 minutes, aside from that one bad error from Fonte of course.
A sloppy pass from McNair puts United under pressure.
Nevertheless, Mane tries to go it alone when he might have been better off passing, and the attack eventually loses all momentum and United regain possession.
The goal aside, Southampton have arguably been the better team so far.
Wanyama has been particularly dominant in midfield.
GOAL FOR SOUTHAMPTON!
Southampton 1-1 Man United (Pelle 30)
Marouane Fellaini concedes possession cheaply before Davis squares it to Long, whose cross causes chaos in the United box.
The ball then deflects into Pelle’s path, and the striker finishes clinically to bring Southampton level.
That’s been coming!
More dodgy defending from United, as McNair hooks the ball straight to Long.
However, the Ireland striker blasts the ball over.
United are reeling now.
Paddy McNair, who looked nervy, has come off, with Herrera taking his place.
It looks like Michael Carrick could now move into the back three.
Mane tries to connect with another dangerous cross from the right, but Valencia just does enough to put him off.
Southampton are still well on top currently.
Pelle’s shot almost falls into the path of the lurking Shane Long, but it narrowly evades the Tipperary native.
Meanwhile, a rare United attack sees a powerful Van Persie strike from just outside the box hit the side-netting.
HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 MAN UNITED
Gary Neville says United have been “horrid” in the first half.
He adds that LVG will be “furious but also delighted [that's it's 1-1]“.
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The second half has begun…
Southampton have again started the second half with more purpose than their opponents.
More than a few United players could do with a wake-up call, as they’re currently sleepwalking their way through this match.
Another great chance for the Saints, as Shane Long is left unmarked in the box.
Unfortunately for Long though, his header is straight at De Gea.
To be fair to the Irishman however, it was a difficult angle to score from.
Southampton are getting in good positions, but have been a tad wasteful in the final third, with Mane failing to pick out the right pass on more than one occasion when the counter-attack has been on.
As I type, Pelle blasts the ball over from the edge of the box.
That sums United’s night up so far — Wayne Rooney’s corner is ballooned straight out of play.
To be fair, it did seem to pop up off a divot just before he hit it.
(Paddy McNair is substituted off during the Barclays Premier League match at St Marys before half-time)
The plot thickens…
GOAL FOR MAN UNITED!
Southampton 1-2 Man United (Van Persie 69)
They’ve scarcely deserve it, but United re-take the lead.
RVP ghosts in unmarked at the back post and places it between the goalkeeper’s legs and into the net.
Great work from Shane Long, who loses the ball cheaply but then chases back and wins it off Rooney.
He subsequently creates a chance for Mane, who forces De Gea into a good save.
Mayuka replaces Long, who has worked tirelessly, but missed one or two decent chances as well.
Just over 10 minutes for Southampton to rescue something from this game.
Southampton have struggled to create chances in the last few minutes.
It’s probably partially due to tiredness, as they have worked extremely hard, though United have also looked more assured at the back in the second half.
As I type though, Clyne flashes a shot just wide from the edge of the area.
Fletcher replaces Mata, as United look to shut up shop.
It hasn’t been a great performance, but on the bright side, the visitors are heading for their fifth consecutive win and third place in the table.
Fellaini is being accused of elbowing Wanyama, as we enter into four minutes of stoppage time.
Replays show it was quite innocuous and seemingly clumsy more than anything else.
Mane is lucky to escape a red card for a wild late challenge on Herrera.
Southampton look a tired, frustrated and beaten side.
FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 MAN UNITED
So that’s that, as United go third with a fifth win on the bounce.
It was far from convincing from Louis van Gaal’s side, but the difference was in the finishing.
Robin van Persie showed a Gary Lineker-esque knack of disappearing for much of the game but coming alive at vital moments, as he claimed a brace.
Southampton often dominated in midfield and were well on top at times, particularly towards the end of the first half.
However, the hosts ultimately ran out of steam, and were left to rue some bad finishing and even worse defending, as United prevailed for what could prove to be a vital victory.
Right, that’s all from me, but we’ll have further reaction to follow.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
