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London. — As Anthony Martial’s second goal nestled into the bottom corner, £58 million did not seem like such a bad deal. In just 75 minutes of Barclays Premier League football for Manchester United, Martial had scored three, the same amount as Wayne Rooney has managed in the last seven months. After his first on debut against Liverpool, the teenager wiped out Graziano Pelle’s opener, just before half-time at Southampton, and then put the visitors ahead soon after the restart.
‘What a waste of money,’ sang United supporters, and even Saints fans applauded Martial in the closing minutes when as he stopped to help Virgil van Dijk cope with his cramp. Juan Mata smashed in a third and United eased to within two points of Manchester City at the top of the table. Mata’s goal was the final touch in a sequence of 45 passes by Louis van Gaal’s team.
United were in complete control by this stage and enjoying the sea air by the Solent – but it had not been plain sailing. Southampton had started well and might have been more goals ahead by the time Martial burst into the game. David de Gea was also required to make two fabulous saves: the first a reaction save to prevent Jose Fonte from levelling at 2-2 and the second at full stretch from Victor Wanyama in stoppage-time.
Saints managed a strong finish. Pelle headed in his second of the game with five minutes remaining. But, United held on, and with De Gea back in goal and Martial providing a clinical edge up front, they suddenly have a pleasing balance. Rooney’s drought in the Premier League was extended to 11 games, but there is encouragement for Van Gaal where they were very little after their defeat at Swansea, last month.
Ronald Koeman had hinted that he would target Daley Blind as a defensive weakness and United were vulnerable on their left side during the game’s opening phase. Marcos Rojo was starting his first game of the season and Pelle tried to pull onto Blind and exert his power in the air. Together with the pace of Sadio Mane and excellent delivery from wide areas by Dusan Tadic and James Ward Prowse, it proved an early problem for the visitors.
Pelle opened the scoring after 13 minutes, when Rojo stood back and allowed Ward-Prowse time to swing over a cross from the right. — MailOnline.
Online Reporter