PLAYER RATINGS: Manchester United back four impress in win away at Southampton

Manchester United ran out 1-0 winners on the south coast as Erik ten Hag secured the second win of his tenure as boss.

Bruno Fernandes’ goal proved the difference between the two sides with United’s defence standing firm in the face of late Southampton pressure.

Sportsmail runs you through the player ratings from a sunny, late August afternoon at St Mary’s. 

Manchester United’s defence stood firm in the face of late Southampton pressure at St Mary’s

Southampton: 4-2-3-1

Gavin Bazunu – 7.5: Made a great save to keep out Anthony Elanga on 19 minutes and also denied Scott McTominay’s volley in the second half. Could do little about the goal.

Kyle Walker-Peters – 7.5: Two superb bits of defending to deny Bruno Fernandes a header at goal and then to block his following effort during United’s flurry of chances on 19 minutes. Solid all game.

Armel Bella-Kotchap – 7.5: Made plenty of interceptions and blocks throughout the game, the best of which came on 19 minutes when he denied Christian Eriksen a certain goal. Should have scored on 30 minutes when the ball fell to him in space from a corner, however.

Kyle Walker-Peters defended well - including two superb bits of defending to deny Bruno Fernandes

Kyle Walker-Peters defended well – including two superb bits of defending to deny Bruno Fernandes

Mohammed Salisu – 7: His pace alongside Bella-Kotchap meant United failed to trouble his team in behind and he made some key interceptions and challenges throughout, though should have done better to deny Elanga a close-range effort on 19 minutes.

Moussa Djenepo – 5.5: A Jekyll and Hide performance with some good moments quickly followed by some bad ones. Looked out of position for Diogo Dalot’s cross which created the opening goal.

James Ward-Prowse – 6: Excellent set-piece delivery as always but struggled to make his mark on the game other than from dead balls.

James Ward-Prowse struggled to make a mark on the game - set-piece delivery was up to his usual high standards

James Ward-Prowse struggled to make a mark on the game – set-piece delivery was up to his usual high standards 

Romeo Lavia – 6.5: Performed his role pretty well overall, keeping hold of possession in midfield when under pressure on a number of occasions thanks to his strength on the ball.

Mohamed Elyounoussi – 6.5: Not that involved but did play a nice ball into Che Adams on 38 minutes, which the striker should have done better from. Replaced by Stuart Armstrong just after the hour mark.

Joe Aribo – 6: A few nice touches here and there but the game seemed to pass him by operating in the number 10 role. Headed straight at David de Gea from a good position on 65 minutes.

The game appeared to pass Joe Aribo, operating in the number 10 role, by as he struggled

The game appeared to pass Joe Aribo, operating in the number 10 role, by as he struggled

Adam Armstrong – 7: Perhaps could have done better with a header on 13 minutes but caused problems for United down the left, including picking out Adams with a good low ball on 31 minutes and then crossing to Aribo for his header in the second half.

Che Adams – 5: Endured a poor afternoon in front of goal with several wasted chances.

Substitutes:

Stuart Armstrong – 6: Brought on to provide more energy and to put United under more pressure and managed to do that, though didn’t impact the game on the ball a great deal.

Che Adams endured a poor afternoon in front of goal but did cause United problems

Che Adams endured a poor afternoon in front of goal but did cause United problems

Sekou Mara – 6: Unlucky with a shot which flew just wide in added time as Southampton pushed for an equaliser.

Lyanco – 5: Brought on too late to have an impact.

Romain Perraud – 5: Brought on too late to have an impact.

Manchester United: 4-2-3-1

David de Gea – 7.5: Good save to keep out Aribo in the second half but other than that had very little to do.

Diogo Dalot – 8: His crossing was excellent, picking out Fernandes for the opening goal in the second half while it was his ball in that led to United’s flurry of chances on 19 minutes. Also good defensively.

Raphael Varane – 8: Kept Southampton’s attack line largely quiet apart from a good chance for Aribo followed by Walker-Peters in the second half. Was in the right place when he needed to defend.

Lisandro Martinez had his second impressive game inside a week with an assured performance

Lisandro Martinez had his second impressive game inside a week with an assured performance

Lisandro Martinez – 8: Put under plenty of pressure after United’s opening goal but stood up to it well and restricted Adams to very little all afternoon.

Tyrell Malacia – 7: Kept Elyounoussi quiet and did his job defensively though there was a few misplaced passes, in the first half especially.

Scott McTominay – 6.5: Did a decent job in front of the back four as the defensive midfielder alongside Christian Eriksen, pressuring the ball and challenging his opposition midfielders.

Scott McTominay did a decent job in front of United's back four in shutting down Southampton forays forward

Scott McTominay did a decent job in front of United’s back four in shutting down Southampton forays forward

Christian Eriksen – 7.5: Excellent in the first half. Caught the eye with some fantastic long passes and created an excellent opportunity on 36 minutes, whipping a low ball across the face of the goal which no one tapped in but was quieter in the second half.

Anthony Elanga – 6: Failed to make the opportunities he did get on the ball count and was denied by a great stop from Bazunu on 19 minutes, from which he probably should have scored.

Bruno Fernandes – 7: Was enduring a frustrating afternoon on the ball until he finished brilliantly from Dalot’s cross to open the scoring.

Bruno Fernandes scored his first goal of the season as he put aside an indifferent first half

Bruno Fernandes scored his first goal of the season as he put aside an indifferent first half

Jadon Sancho – 5.5: Failed to cause Southampton any real problems before he was replaced by Cristiano Ronaldo on 67 minutes.

Marcus Rashford – 5: Started as United’s central striker before the introduction of Ronaldo but was barely involved in the game, even after moving out wide.

Substitutes:

After his goal against Liverpool Jadon Sancho will be disappointed to have seen this game pass him by

After his goal against Liverpool Jadon Sancho will be disappointed to have seen this game pass him by

Cristiano Ronaldo – 6: Won a few balls in the air after coming on but was not presented with any opportunities to test the goalkeeper. Wasted a good attacking chance right before the final whistle.

Casemiro – 6: Added some composure to the midfield when United were under pressure in the second half.

Fred – 5: Brought on late to try and disrupt Southampton and picked up a yellow card for doing so.

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