Fernandes leads Manchester United’s resurgence

That’s football for you. After losing their first two Premier League games, Manchester United started the new season showing the same symptoms that they had under the coaches who preceded Erik ten Hag. Without intensity, without success, without extracting any of the talent in a squad which has grown accustomed to disappointing in recent years. But within the space of a week, the panorama has changed completely. United convincingly beat Liverpool on Monday, and on Saturday, they followed that up by taking all three points from their visit to Southampton. Without dominating, without having absolute control of the game, against an opponent whose maximum aspiration finishing mid-table. But without going through too much trouble, which is already a positive change from not so long ago.

Fernandes winner

With Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga and Marcus Rashford led the attack. With the support of playmaker Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder scored the only goal of the match. He was the player who made the difference on the day, meeting Diogo Dalot’s cross from the right with a precise volley to Manchester United’s resurgence at St Mary’s. David De Gea also contributed - he was alert to block Joe Aribo’s header from the edge of the six-yard box just ten minutes after Fernandes’ goal. He then watched with relief as Kyle Walker-Peters sent the rebound into the Southampton sky.

The home team tried to get into the game but United’s defence gave nothing away. Every attack was repelled with blocks, bodies thrown up into the air. As a bodyguard worthy of any action movie, Lautaro Martínez continued to show strong arguments why he should accompany Raphäel Varane in the axis of defense. The Argentine was like a terrier. As was Scott McTominay. There was speculation in the hours leading up to the match that Casemiro might start, but Ten Hag opted for the Scotsman after his good performance in the derby against Liverpool. “After Monday’s performance I decided to bet on the same team,” explained the Dutch coach.

Consecutive win and a clean sheet

Ten Hag decided to start Cristiano Ronaldo to the bench - for the second game running. The Portuguese ace came on in the 68th minute and caused a scare when he was seen lying on the ground clutching his right knee. Fortunately it was just a scare and he was able to continue. Casemiro made his debut with his new team coming on as a sub ten minutes from the end. He replaced Elanga to help the team defend their lead. And he did so with efficiency. For the first time since February, United have won two successive Premier League games. For the first time since December, De Gea finished a match without conceding a goal. The streak of seven consecutive defeats away from home has also come to an end. Manchester United are back on course.

Southampton

• 31 Gavin Bazunu
• 2 Kyle Walker-Peters
• 19 Moussa Djenepo (88')
• 22 Mohammed Salisu
• 37 Armel Kotchap
• 8 Ward-Prowse
• 9 Armstrong (76')
• 7 Joe Aribo (88')
• 45 Romeo Lavia
• 24 Mohammed Elyounoussi (62')
• 10 Che Adams
• Substitutes
• 35 Bednarek
• 4 Lyanco (88')
• 43 Yan Valery
• 27 Ibrahima Diallo
• 15 Romain Perraud (88')
• 1 McCarthy
• 18 Sékou Mara (76')
• 6 Oriol Romeu
• 17 Armstrong (62')

M. United

• 1 De Gea
• 20 Diogo Dalot
• 6 Lisandro Martínez
• 12 Tyrell Malacia
• 19 Varane
• 25 Jadon Sancho (67')
• 36 Anthony Elanga (79')
• 14 Eriksen (91')
• 8 Bruno Fernandes
• 39 McTominay
• 10 Rashford
• Substitutes
• 29 Wan-Bissaka
• 7 Cristiano (67')
• 22 Heaton
• 49 Alejandro Garnacho
• 18 Casemiro (79')
• 5 Harry Maguire
• 17 Fred (91')
• 23 Shaw
• 34 van de Beek

Substitutions

Stuart Armstrong (62', Mohamed Elyounoussi), Cristiano Ronaldo (67', Jadon Sancho), Sékou Mara (76', Adam Armstrong), Casemiro (79', Anthony Elanga), Romain Perraud (88', Moussa Djenepo), Lyanco (88', Joe Aribo), Fred (91', Christian Eriksen)

Goals

0-1, 54': Bruno Fernandes

Cards

Referee: Andy Madley
VAR Referee: Peter Bankes, Derek Eaton
Diogo Dalot (49',Yellow) McTominay (82',Yellow) Fred (95',Yellow)

Table

Table	Pts.	P	W	D	L
11 FUL	5	4	1	2	1
12 CRY	4	4	1	1	2
13 SOU	4	4	1	1	2
14 NTT	4	4	1	1	2
15 AST	3	4	1	0	3

Table	Pts.	P	W	D	L
6 CHE	7	4	2	1	1
7 NEW	6	4	1	3	0
8 MNU	6	4	2	0	2
9 LIV	5	4	1	2	1
10 BRE	5	4	1	2	1