London - Manchester United continue to disappoint as despite battling back
from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Southampton on Saturday, Jose
Mourinho's men fell 16 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester
City.
Against a Southampton side without a home win in the Premier
League this season, a woeful opening saw United 2-0 down after less
than 20 minutes to goals from Stuart Armstrong and Cedric Soares.
As
so often this season, going behind brought the best out of the visitors
and they levelled before half-time as Marcus Rashford created goals for
Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera.
That should have been United's cue to press home their momentum after the break.
Instead,
they failed to take control and David De Gea was the busier of the two
goalkeepers, producing a fine save late on to tip a shot from Nathan
Redmond to safety.
A third consecutive Premier League game without
a win leaves United trailing in City's wake. Still seventh in the
table, the Red Devils could end the weekend nine points off the top
four.
Saints had not won in nine league games and had scored only
four goals at St Mary's, but they made a flying start as Mourinho's
decision to play midfielder Scott McTominay at the heart of his defence
quickly backfired.
Michael Obafemi fed Armstrong inside the area
and from a tight angle the Scottish international smashed the ball
confidently past De Gea for his third goal in two league games.
The opener was the sixth time this season that United have conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes of a match.
Seven
minutes later, it was 2-0. Rashford was ruled to have fouled Mario
Lemina two yards outside the penalty area, and Cedric curled the ball
brilliantly over the wall and into the net between De Gea and his near
post.
Rashford's profligacy in front of goal against Young Boys in
the Champions League in midweek provoked Mourinho to display his
frustration on the sidelines.
But the England international showed what he is capable of as a provider for both United's goals.
Just
after the half hour mark he did well to collect a forward pass and turn
past Maya Yoshida before crossing for the unmarked Lukaku, who drove
his first goal in seven games over Alex McCarthy and high into the net.
Six
minutes later, it was 2-2 when Rashford got to the byline and cut the
ball into the six-yard box, where Herrera nipped in front of his marker
to score with a cute back-heel that McCarthy got a hand to but could not
keep out.
Yet it was the hosts who will feel aggrieved not to have taken a much-needed three points as they remain in the bottom three.
Saints
had claims for a penalty waved away when McTominay got a foot to a low
cross from the right but seemed to bring down Obafemi before Pierre
Emile Hojbjerg and Redmond both brought excellent saves from De Gea with
shots from long range.