Manchester United ease past Southampton after Onana penalty save

Garnacho had the last laugh as he thumped a late third goal into the roof of the net 20 seconds from time

Alejandro Garnacho came on as a late substitute and scored United's third in stoppage time

Erik Ten Hag must have been fearing the worst after 34 minutes at St Mary’s. His team were being outplayed by Southampton and had just conceded a penalty but when Andre Onana dived to his right and saved Cameron Archer’s tame effort, the narrative changed completely.

Eventually this proved to be a routine victory for United, earned through goals from the impressive Matthijs De Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho with the last kick of the game. Saints captain Jack Stephens was sent off late on for a lunge on Garnacho to compound Russell Martin’s misery.

Casemiro was consigned to the bench following his error-strewn half against Liverpool before the international break but it wasn’t Manuel Ugarte who replaced him, instead Christian Eriksen partnered Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield.

The most eye-catching name on the Southampton team sheet was Tyler Dibling, the 18 year-old midfielder making his first Premier League start. He lit up St Mary’s after five minutes as he rolled past Diego Dalot with ease and then cut inside to produce a fierce shot for Onana to beat to safety.

After a slow start, United came close in the 15th minute as Joshua Zirkzee was denied by Aaron Ramsdale at close range after he’d latched on to Eriksen’s pass.

Dalot was clearly unsettled by Dibling and conceded a penalty as he brought down the Saints youngster who had cleverly cut inside him.

Matthijs de Ligt, center, celebrates after scoring his first goal for Manchester United

Archer took the resulting spot kick but Onana guessed correctly and made the crucial save.

He was made to pay almost immediately. With their next attack, United forced a corner after Zirkzee had shot low to the right. It was taken short and Bruno Fernandes swung the ball to the far post where De Ligt headed in unmarked from six-yards out.

United were much improved from there with plenty of purpose about their counter-attacks. Rashford should have put them further ahead when he was blocked by Ramsdale at close range but he did put Ten Hag’s side two up at the break as he cut inside to curl the ball low into the far corner from the edge of the area four minutes before half-time.

It looked like it was game over thereafter and so it proved. United pressed for more and Rashford went close with another curling effort on the hour mark which the busy Ramsdale did well to tip round the post.

11 minutes from time, Southampton captain Jack Stephens was sent off for a high challenge on Alejandro Garnacho with Saints boos Russell Martin himself booked for protesting Stuart Atwell’s decision.

Garnacho had the last laugh as he thumped a third into the roof of the net 20 seconds from time.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale 7; Sugawara 7, Bednarek 7, Stephens 5, Walker-Peters 6; Ugochukwu 6 (Lallana 62, 6), Downes 6; Dibling 7 (Cornet 62, 6), Fernandes 7 (Harwood-Bellis 81, 6), Brereton-Diaz 5 (Fraser 62, 6); Archer 5 (Stewart 62, 6). Subs: McCarthy (g), Harwood-Bellis, Aribo, Armstrong, Taylor. 

Booked: Cornet Sent off: Stephens. 

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Onana 8; Mazraouri 7 (Maguire 73, 6), De Ligt 8 (Casemiro 87, 6), Martinez 7 (Evans 77, 6), Dalot 6; Eriksen 6 (Ugarte 73, 6), Mainoo 6; Diallo 7, Fernandes 7, Rashford 7 (Garnacho 73, 6); Zirkzee 7. Subs: Altay (g), Casemiro, Antony, Wheatley, Collyer.

Booked: Mainoo, Eriksen, Fernandes. 

Referee: Stuart Atwell.