Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
SOUTHAMPTON CLIMBED above Manchester United into third place in the Premier League with a shock 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
Ronald Koeman’s side stole the points in a dour encounter as Dusan Tadic’s 69th minute strike boosted Southampton’s bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
United, now two points behind Southampton, could have few complaints after a lacklustre performance which condemned them to their first home defeat since the opening weekend of the season against Swansea.
Southampton have the best defensive away record in the top-flight and they easily frustrated United in a dull first half in which neither side managed a shot on target.
After a member of the Saints backroom staff retrieved his jersey from the dressing room, the Serbian international was introduced from the bench on 63 minutes.
Koeman’s side took the lead in the 69th minute when Graziano Pelle’s shot hit a post and rebounded to Serbian midfielder Tadic, who swept his low shot past Tyler Blackett’s attempt to clear off the line.
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Tadic was then booked for the sort of abs-flexing celebration we’ve seen before Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Balotelli in the past.
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Juan Mata missed United’s best chance, firing just wide, as the hosts pressed in vain for an equaliser.
It was the Saints’ first win over United since 2003 and their first at Old Trafford since 1988, and after a wobble in early December, they are firmly back on track having beaten United and Arsenal, and drawn with Chelsea, in their last three league matches.
Louis van Gaal’s team, meanwhile, are without a win in their last three league games and recent talk of a potential title challenge is likely to be silenced as they lie 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.
