Southampton 1-2 Man Utd: Van Persie the difference

Robin van Persie sends the ball through Fraser Forsters legs for Uniteds winning goal. Picture: Reuters

Scorers: Southampton - Pellè (31); Manchester Utd - Van Persie (12, 71)

Van Persie ghosted onto Jose Fonte’s loose backpass before flicking home Wayne Rooney’s rangy free-kick to seal United’s fifth-straight victory and take them up to third place in the Barclays Premier League.

Graziano Pelle had levelled for Saints with his first goal in six games, but in the all-Dutch managers’ tale of master meets apprentice, the Netherlands striker Van Persie stole the show.

Van Gaal employed Koeman to coach in his Barcelona set-up, but fell out with the former Oranje full-back at Ajax in 2004.

Koeman’s arrival as first-team coach ruffled Van Gaal as he shifted to technical director at the famous Amsterdam club.

The rift was set in 2009 when Van Gaal claimed Koeman was “third choice” to replace him at AZ Alkmaar – his parting shot before heading off to Bayern Munich.

Both men have played down their mutual dislike, but the frostiness was clear last night; no handshake before or after proceedings, no love lost.

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Koeman bested his former mentor in the tactical stakes, but Fonte’s error and a touch of forward-line class edged United home.

Saints cut United apart at will in the match’s middle third, Koeman employing Steven Davis to fine effect in front of the back four. He completely overshadowed the ineffective Marouane Fellaini, helping Saints shrug off the injury absences of Morgan Schneiderlin, Toby Alderweireld and Jack Cork.

But ominous starts do not come more concerning than gifting a striker of Van Persie’s calibre the opening goal.

Saints skipper Fonte’s woefully under-hit backpass cleared the way for the lurking Dutchman, and the 31-year-old calmly slid the ball home, between Fraser Forster’s legs.

Slowly but surely however, the hosts realised they boasted by far the greater tactical balance, and finally started to express their true pedigree.

Sadio Mane robbed Paddy McNair and shimmied into the box, only to lose control. Pelle flicked round to Tadic on the spin as Saints pressed again, but the chief creator overhit the through-ball.

Chris Smalling limped off with a leg problem, replaced by Jonny Evans, with United feeling the pinch.

Saints’ pressure told when target man Pelle delivered after another sustained attack. Fellaini conceded possession all too cheaply to Davis, who raced through the middle and fed Shane Long. His cross led Tadic to strike on goal, a deflection ushered Pelle through and he fired the equaliser.

Saints burst out of the blocks the brighter for the second half, Long wasting another fine chance when directing a point-blank header straight at De Gea from Tadic’s cross.

Tadic turned provider again by sliding a perfectly-weighted pass through to Pelle, only for the big Italian to fire over.

However, when Rooney whipped in a dangerous far-post free-kick, Van Persie stole round the back and flicked a left-footed volley past Forster.

A stunned Saints side could not force another real opening, and United employed all their nous to sneak to victory.

Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Bertrand, Steven Davis, Wanyama, Long (Mayuka 79), Tadic (Hesketh 70), Mane, Pelle.

Manchester Utd: De Gea, McNair (Ander Herrera 39), Smalling (Evans 18), Rojo, Carrick, Valencia, Fellaini, Mata (Fletcher 89), Young, van Persie, Rooney.

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