Manchester United 0-1 Southampton: Charlie Austin scores late winner on his debut as boos ring out for Louis van Gaal's side
- Charlie Austin came off the bench and headed in James Ward-Prowse's free-kick in the 87th minute at Old Trafford
- The English striker was making his debut for Southampton following his £4m move from QPR last week
- Louis van Gaal's side lose more ground on Tottenham in fourth place and were booed off at full time
The structure is still there. The stadium is where it has always been, tight beside the railway lines leading into Manchester. The supporters can still see the girders from the four corners of the ground rising into the sky as they come off the M60 and head towards Stretford. The fans still pack the stands.
But there is little else that is recognisable about Manchester United these days. If you have not been for a while to the place known by many as The Theatre of Dreams, it is an unsettling, rather sad place to visit. It is hard not to feel that it is diminished.
Everything they have told you about the loss of enthusiasm at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal is true. Old Trafford is quiet now. Almost eerily so. But then United’s 1-0 home defeat to Southampton was thoroughly dispiriting. There was really no other word for it.
Southampton's new £4million striker Charlie Austin celebrates after scoring a late winner against Manchester United
The former QPR and Burnley hitman celebrates in front of the travelling Southampton faithful after his goal at Old Trafford
Austin was unmarked as he headed home James Ward-Prowse's free-kick in the 87th minute to stun the hosts
Anthony Martial looks dejected after missing a chance to score during Manchester United's defeat by Southampton on Saturday
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal holds his head in his hands after another disappointing day at Old Trafford
Wayne Rooney (left), Ander Herrera (centre) and Juan Mata (right) look dejected after Austin's late goa
Southampton deserved their victory, secured by a late header by Charlie Austin, signed from QPR last week, on his debut. United deserved nothing. They were desperately poor, devoid of inspiration or guile, lacking passion and intensity. They looked like a team going through the motions. They looked like a team that does not believe.
They are now five points behind fourth-placed Spurs, who have momentum with them. Leicester are not showing any signs of blowing up. The alarm bells must be starting to ring louder and louder in the office of United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, although his fate may be tied to that of his manager.
Sure, there is still a strand of opinion at Old Trafford that the criticism of Van Gaal and his style is unjust and excessive. At a time when success, not just in football but in society as a whole, is expected to come instantly, it is very much an old-fashioned attitude.
It argues that United supporters had become so used to success under Sir Alex Ferguson and so unaccustomed to anything beyond the most brief of blips that they are now psychologically unable to cope with adversity.
It is easy to adhere to that theory from a distance, less easy when you witness the desperate, turgid, dreary, sterile, soporific fare that United serve up these days at close quarters. It is as if somebody has asked Van Gaal to provide a brand of football that is the complete antithesis of the panache and verve with which Ferguson’s United played.
Manchester United striker Martial is brought down by Ryan Betrand (left) as Victor Winyama (right) closes in
The Southampton left back was then involved in a tussle with United captain Rooney in the first half
Van Gaal walks to the dugout before kick-off as subs Memphis Depay (left) and Adnan Januzaj (right) are pictured in front of him
Martial shoots towards goal as the hosts struggled to break Southampton down in the first half at Old Trafford
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini clashes with Dutch international Jordy Clasie during the Premier League encounter
A gash is visible on the back of Clasie's leg after he came together with Fellaini during the first half
A mouse is pictured on the Old Trafford pitch during the game between Manchester United and Southampton
Watching Manchester United at Old Trafford has become a strange, unnerving experience. It is as if the crowd has had the soul sucked out of it. It is as if the players have been drained of all their dynamism. It is as if enthusiasm has died and optimism has perished and ambition has been throttled.
The whole character of the place has changed. This used to be a place pulsating with dreams and excitement and the chase for trophies. Now it is a stadium populated by resignation and shrugs and boos. The first jeers broke out eight minutes before half-time yesterday. United’s DNA has been altered.
Even the stadium announcer sounds downcast these days. ‘Hope you have a great weekend in Manchester,’ he told one fan over the loud speaker system at half time but he could not muster much feeling for the sentiment. Fat chance of having a great weekend when it starts like this.
The first half was stripped bare of excitement. Wayne Rooney managed a couple of shots. Both were tame. Both were well wide. Marouane Fellaini nearly created a chance for Shane Long by miscuing an attempted clearance high into the air towards his own goal. United were booed off at half time and no wonder. They have now failed to score a goal in the first 45 minutes for 11 games in succession.
Every time Southampton gained possession in the attacking third, they showed an urgency that underlined just how laborious United have become. It was from one of these bursts of energy, eight minutes before half time, that the visitors should have taken the lead but Mane could not quite control a through ball that had left him with only De Gea to beat.
Sadio Mane had the best chance of the first 45 minutes but he lost his footing as he went through on goal
Shane Long is helped up by referee Mike Jones as David de Gea speaks to the Southampton striker
Manchester United youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson holds off the challenge of Southampton defender Cedric Soares
Juan Mata was cheered my Manchester United fans after he came on to replace Fellaini at half-time
Southampton boss Ronald Koeman barks out instructions from the touchline as he came up against countryman Van Gaal on Saturday
Matteo Darmian is treated by the Manchester United physios after he collided with Dusan Tadic at the back post
The Italian international added to Van Gaal's injury woes after going off - he was replaced by Paddy McNair
For a summary of United’s play, try this: in the fifth minute, Herrera dispossessed Targett on the edge of the Southampton box. Southampton were caught off guard and out of shape and Rooney and Martial were lurking in the middle. But Herrera passed the ball short to Lingard, who passed it back to him. Herrera then retreated with the ball towards midfield, spread it backwards and eventually Rooney dropped deep to try to instill some urgency into play and was tackled.
That is fairly typical of United’s build-up this season. Patience personified. Cautious to a tee. That was why the biggest cheer of the afternoon resonated around the ground at the start of the second half when it was announced that Juan Mata, a player with flair in abundance, was replacing Fellaini.
United did start the second half more brightly and exerted some pressure on the Southampton goal but it was still Ronald Koeman’s team who looked more likely to score. A scintillating run by Mane stretched United to their limit and his cross needed a fine saving header from Darmian to deny Long. Long headed wide soon after. Wanyama should have done better with another headed chance.
In the search for brightness amid the gloom, the eye was drawn to David de Gea’s fluourescent lime green jersey but very little else. Then Austin was introduced as a late substitute and promptly headed home powerfully and accurately from a corner. In former times, United might have conjured a rousing riposte. Those times have gone.
Rooney remonstrates with the referee with Jesse Lingard and Morgan Schneiderlin at Old Trafford
Austin replaced Sadio Mane with just over 10 minutes remaining at Old Trafford and was determined to bag on his debut
Austin embraces strike partner Shane Long after the final whistle as Southampton's impressive run continued
The scoreboard at the endf of the match was not pretty reading for Manchester United fans and Van Gaal
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson chats to friends before the game at Old Trafford
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