Amad Diallo’s dramatic late hat-trick turned the game around as Manchester United beat Southampton 3-1 at Old Trafford.
It is 91 years since United last lost more than three home league games in a row but when Manuel Ugarte’s own goal left Ruben Amorim’s side behind to the Premier League’s bottom club at the break, a fourth looked likely. But Amad had other ideas.
He forced home the equaliser in the 82nd minute before playing a delightful one-two with Christian Eriksen in the 90th minute to put United ahead. Amad then latched onto a characteristic Saints defensive mishap to clinch the match-ball and transform the night.
It was a struggle for much of the evening but the victory lifts United above three London clubs into 12th and builds on that FA Cup win over Arsenal at the weekend. For Ivan Juric and Southampton, it is a desperate blow. They remain 10 points from safety.
Alejandro Garnacho did miss a big chance to slot United in front early on but that was a rare opening for Amorim’s tentative team with Southampton looking the better side in a first half in which only Andre Onana came out with any credit for the home side.
The United goalkeeper kept out the lively Kamaldeen Sulemana, who tormented Leny Yoro throughout, before producing a sensational double stop to deny Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes. But Onana was helpless to prevent Ugarte’s own goal.
Southampton had been the only team not to score a Premier League goal from a corner prior to this game but United’s weakness from set-pieces was evident again, a tenth goal conceded from a corner. Sulemana might have doubled Saints’ lead after that.
And when substitute Antony contrived to miss an open goal, the mood at Old Trafford turned bleak. Amad, as he has so often this season, changed that. As others shrink, he seems to grow under pressure, always wanting it, offering movement on and off the ball.
It was enough to salvage the three points against a Southampton side that crumbled like a team that has won only once all season. Amorim can hardly be satisfied with the overall performance. But for the second time inside a week, he could point to the spirit.
Juric: We have to be more evil
Southampton boss Ivan Juric speaking in the press conference:
“I think we did really well for 75 to 77 minutes and then did really bad managing the game. We cannot play 95 minutes in the same way. It is a real pity we play like this.
“I have to be honest I expected a bit more of the players who came on, they have to give us more energy and more intensity.
“Everything we did was perfect. But there is a moment you have to be more evil and manage the game differently, we could not do that.
“I am from Italy and we are the best in the world at mentality. There is a moment you have to be Italian, lose the time, some fouls, throws. We are like kids, playing well, and then they score. I will show them what other teams do in the last 15 minutes.”
