Erik ten Hag is once again vindicated as Man United wins its second straight game - 5 talking points

 

Manchester United defeated Southampton twice in the Premier League thanks to a lovely second-half goal from Bruno Fernandes.

Erik ten Hag and company secured their first away victory since February over Ralph Hasenhuttl's team by traveling to St. Mary's on the heels of a thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool on Monday. The captain Harry Maguire and wanted-away Cristiano Ronaldo were once more left out of the starting lineup, while new £60 million acquisition Casemiro was also selected as a backup.

The Red Devils had work to do after the interval following a lackluster first half performance, but Fernandes opened the scoring with a beautiful first-time strike, volleying past Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. With the exception of a brief attack in extra time, the Saints huffed and puffed but never really bothered the visitors. David de Gea was only called upon to make one save.

From St. Mary's, here are five talking points.

1. Casemiro was made to wait

Casemiro was supposed to make his United debut on the south coast after a £60 million transfer agreement to bring him in was announced on Monday. Despite the Red Devils' problems in midfield, Erik ten Hag had other plans and decided to sit the former Real Madrid mainstay and not force him into action.

Ten Hag elucidated: "It's always a tough choice, and I believe our team is pretty competitive. However, as you point out, we gave a pretty strong performance on Monday, so you stick with it. It's also important to give Casemiro some time, too. He hasn't played in a single game of 90 minutes, so he needs time to adjust to England, to Man United, and to the club as a whole."

Casemiro was initially a substitute.

2. Saints lining a wall

The Red Devils felt it was time to break the score after a relatively dull first 20 minutes, but they were stopped by some brave Southampton defending. Gavin Bazunu, the Saints' new permanent goalkeeper who arrived from Manchester City this summer, made three outstanding blocks from his defenders in order to stop Anthony Elanga.

Nearly every United attacker had a shot at the goal as the ball bounced around the penalty area, but none of them were successful in getting through. United managed to get through without giving up a goal away from home in the first half for the first time since February, but the fruitless goalmouth scramble looked to knock their confidence.

Southampton did well to contain Manchester United.

3. Fernandes' excellent work

Bruno Fernandes gave the Red Devils the lead barely 10 minutes into the second half, following one of his poorest first-half individual efforts in a while. Diogo Dalot, who was overlapping, found him with a right-side cross as the Southampton defenders were being dragged away by Marcus Rashford and Elanga, giving the Portuguese midfielder plenty of room just inside the penalty area.

However, Fernandes didn't waste any time in taking a shot, cushioning the ball with a well-timed volley into the goal. In contrast to the slower build-up play of the first 45 minutes, United's snappy passes to cut through the Saints were a welcome sight as Ten Hag and company took the lead.

Fernandes scored a beautiful volley to make it 1-0.

4. David De Gea saves

Prior to falling behind 1-0, Southampton conducted themselves beautifully, but after Fernandes' score, they really put the screw. The Red Devils' goalkeeper was to blame for Hasenhuttl's squad failing to tie the game when Scott McTominay unintentionally handled the ball after a scuffle with Che Adams; they were unlucky not to have been given a penalty.

Joe Aribo's head landed on an Adam Armstrong cross, but David de Gea demonstrated that his lightning-quick reflexes haven't worn out. Aribo's shot was deflected over by the Spaniard, who was praised loudly by Lisandro Martinez for his potentially game-winning stop.

Lately, De Gea's actions were required.

5. Initial joy

After spending 80 minutes watching from the bench of the substitutes, Casemiro made his United debut in place of Elanga. Before the game, traveling Red Devils fans were singing a brand-new song about the Brazilian, Casemiro, who carried his winning streak to St Mary's.

Despite being 30 years old, the midfielder has plenty of life left and was brought in to help United with a persistent issue that has existed ever since Way Ten Hag's arrival. Only an injury concern for Cristiano Ronaldo, who was also a substitute, kept the away team from securing a crucial three points in the dying minutes.