Back pain again but United still go seven up

Man United 2 Southampton 1

However, it was the type of performance that may have United worrying about their Champions League prospects with their tie with Real Madrid now only a couple of weeks away.

But despite their tendency to make life difficult for themselves it continues to be more than enough in the league.

This was the 12th time in 24 league games that they have conceded first but Rooney’s double ensured they have still only failed to win in three of those matches.

The England striker has found himself struggling to stay in the spotlight due to Robin van Persie’s blistering form but he now has nine goals in nine matches and looks like hitting form once again as United push into the key period of the campaign.

Alex Ferguson made his intention to simply outscore the visitors clear with his team selection but even though the United manager has come to accept some of his team’s cavalier play, even he will have been alarmed at the way they conceded just three minutes in.

The United boss admitted his side got lucky. “If you look at it my experience of this club and going for championships, there’s always a game where you say we were a bit lucky and I think it was one of these nights.”

On Rooney’s contribution, Ferguson added: “He got a goal on Saturday too and I said then if Chicharito and Wayne and Robin get us 20 goals each we are in business.”

Although the link to Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic refuses to go away, the United manager remained staunchly behind goalkeeper De Gea after his error at the end of the 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

But his patience was tested once again when Michael Carrick under-hit a back pass, rather than clearing the ball aggressively, the Spaniard failed to make any contact with the ball and Rodriguez had an easy finish.

Such errors may have a long-term effect on De Gea’s career but in the more immediate term United took just five minutes to draw level.

A Carrick pass was blocked and Shinji Kagawa opened up the Southampton defence with a smart pass for Rooney to coast through and guide a shot into the corner.

They should have had a second a couple of minutes later but after a Phil Jones cross was allowed all the way across the box, Kagawa saw his effort come back off the post.

Robin van Persie went close when he saw his shot flick over the bar off Maya Yoshida but the Dutchman then laid on United’s second just before the half-hour. He floated a free-kick to the far post, Patrice Evra headed back across goal and Rooney stabbed in from just over a foot.

Southampton manager Mauro Pochettino made a double change at the interval as he looked to spark his team and Lambert forced a low save from De Gea.

Steve Davis thumped wide and De Gea had another anxious moment when he required two attempts to gather a routine free-kick from Lambert.

Van Persie was denied by a fine save from Boruc before having an effort ruled out for offside but De Gea went some way towards making up for his early error with a fine save from Lambert’s delicate free-kick.

Boruc was also out quickly to prevent Rooney from scoring a third but Nemanja Vidic was forced into a brave block from Lambert before Morgan Schneiderlin thumped well over as United failed to convince and Ferguson prowling the technical area in added time said everything about how uncomfortable a night it was for the hosts.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 5; Jones 7, Smalling 6 (Ferdinand 63, 6), Vidic 6, Evra 7; Welbeck 7, Carrick 6, Anderson 5 (Rafael 68), Kagawa 6 (Nani 73, 6); Van Persie 7, Rooney 8.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-1-1): Boruc 7; Clyne 7, Yoshida 6, Hooiveld 6, Fox 7 (Shaw 78, 6); Puncheon 6 (S Davis 46, 7), Cork 6, Schneiderlin 7, Rodriguez 7; Ramirez 6 (Lallana 46, 6); Lambert 7.

Referee: Lee Mason