Ruthless, rampant, merciless Manchester United destroyed Southampton in an incredible Old Trafford goal fest as the Reds thrashed Saints 9-0 to record our biggest win of the season and equal the historic nine-goal rout of Ipswich Town in 1995.
United was in irresistible form as we put Southampton to the sword in devastating fashion.
The visitors ended the match with only nine men after a 77-second sending off for Saints’ Swiss midfielder Alex Jankewitz and a late dismissal for Jan Bednarek.
United showed no mercy in the first 45 minutes against the 10 men with first home goals for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Edinson Cavani.
Sandwiched between the right-back and striker’s efforts were goals for Marcus Rashford and an own goal from Bednarek.
And the goals kept coming in the second half with two-goal sub Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, from the spot, and a late Dan James strike adding to Southampton’s misery.
HIGHLIGHTS: UNITED 9 SAINTS 0VIDEO
FIRST HALF - RED CARD AND RAINING GOALS
The match exploded into life within seconds of referee Mike Dean’s whistle with a horrible, high, studs-up tackle on McTominay by Jankewitz after just 77 seconds.
The 19-year-old was making his first Premier League start for Saints, but was back in the dressing room immediately with Dean having no hesitation in producing an early straight red card.
McTominay, fortunately, was able to continue against the 10-man visitors, but sported a few stud-marks on his thigh as evidence of the appalling challenge. The man advantage and an injury-depleted Saints squad who were already reeling from just one win in their last eight games allowed the Reds to lay siege to Southampton’s goal.
The breakthrough came after just 18 minutes with Wan-Bissaka scoring his first Old Trafford goal. It was a full-back to full-back move with Luke Shaw sending a deep cross to the far post where Wan-Bissaka finished with a lovely side-foot volley.
In-form Shaw was involved in United’s second after 25 minutes as the Reds made hay. The left-back slipped a ball into the box to Mason Greenwood who cut it back for Rashford to finish smartly to make it 2-0.
Southampton may have been reeling but they almost clawed a goal back in the 28th minute. David De Gea, however, magnificently kept out a stunner of a free-kick from deadly set piece exponent James Ward-Prowse.
Bruno Fernandes came close to a third with a shot that was pushed away by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and Shaw drilled in one against his old club that the Saints' no.1 stopped again. But he was beaten in the 34th minute when rampant United made it 3-0.
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| Manchester United 9-0 Southampton: Manchester United Thrash Nine-Man Saints |
There was a contentious moment as the first half came to a close when United thought they'd got a penalty for a foul on Cavani. But VAR ruled the offence by Kayne Ramsay was outside of the box.
SECOND HALF - GOAL BONANZA CONTINUES
With the game as good as over Solskjaer took the luxurious opportunity to give Shaw and Cavani breathers and brought on Donny van de Beek and Martial for the second half.
United switched off though after 53 minutes when a quick free-kick caught us out and Che Adams eventually drilled the ball home. But the goal was controversially ruled out by VAR for offside as the scorer nipped in onto the set-piece by Ward-Prowse.
The manager made his third substitution when he replaced Rashford with James on the hour and just when it looked like our potency had fizzled out, Martial struck a thumping goal to make it 5-0 after 69 minutes as he chested a Fernandes clipped pass to bring the ball under control, turn and crashed the shot into the top of the net.
Two minutes later and United were at it yet again as McTominay seized on a Southampton clearance to return the ball with a powerful, low drilled shot home to make it 6-0.
Adams missed a golden chance to snatch a consolation at the other end, but scooped his shot high into the East Stand, before Martial almost got his second as his effort bent around McCarthy as he rushed from goal but bobbled just wide of the post.
A further late burst of goals finished off a memorable performance. Fernandes scored from the spot after Dean studied the pitchside monitor to okay his decision to give an 87th-minute spot-kick for a foul on Martial that saw Bednarek's dismisssed for the challenge. Our Portuguese midfielder made it 7-0.
Martial got his second just on 90 minutes and James brought up the ninth in added time to complete a stunning display.
MATCH DETAILS
United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof Maguire, Shaw (van de Beek 45), Fred, McTominay, Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford (James 60), Cavani (Martial 45).
Subs not used: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Williams, Matic, Pogba.
Goals: Wan-Bissaka (18), Rashord (25), Bednarek (og 34), Cavani (39), Martial (69, 90), McTominay (71), Fernandes (87 pen), James (90+3)
Booked: Maguire, van de Beek
Southampton: McCarthy, Ramsay, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand, Jankewitz, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Djenepo (Tchaptchet 78) Adams, Ings (Redmond 70).
Subs not used: Forster, N’Lundulu, Lewis, Ferry, Finnigan, Chauke
Sent off: Jankewitz, Bednarek
Booked: Ramsay
