The mark of a good team is they play poorly and win. Not as poorly as this, mind you. Manchester United were very ordinary indeed. Still, this is their fifth consecutive victory under Louis van Gaal and they have clawed their way up to third in the Premier League, so they must have something. What they had on Monday night was a world-class finisher in Robin van Persie. Since his title-winning first season at United he has often been criticised, but this was one of those occasions when he was the difference. Poor defending from Southampton — horrid for the first goal, in fact — was equally responsible for United’s win, but a lesser striker would not have taken his only two chances of the game with such assurance. To nutmeg the goalkeeper twice is no accident. Van Persie knew what he was doing.
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Robin van Persie capitalised on a Jose Fonte error to give Manchester United an early first half lead
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Graziano Pelle equalised for Southampton in the 31st minute with a blistering left-footed strike
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Van Persie restored United's lead on 71 minutes with the outside of his left-foot from a Wayne Rooney free-kick
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The Red Devils have won five straight league games, while Saints have lost their last three matches
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Van Persie proved United's star man, while Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata had shockers
Credit to Wayne Rooney, who did well to apply pressure to centre-half @placeholder, but he cannot have expected to force such a thoughtlessly blind backpass.
And sure enough, 71 minutes in, @placeholder were handed the bill for their profligacy.