EPL 2001/02 - Manchester United vs Southampton
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00:00Rather unfamiliar territory for Manchester United, especially three days before Christmas
00:05But by beating Southampton, they could move to within three points of the leaders
00:09The Saints hadn't won at Old Trafford since 1988 and the previous season had been crushed 5-0
00:15United may not have been as consistent as usual, but were always dangerous at home
00:21Sir Alex Ferguson selected a wingless midfield
00:24Gary Neville played in the centre of defence
00:26While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given the vote to partner Ruud van Nistelrooy up front
00:31There was as much interest in the substitutes bench at Old Trafford
00:34Where Ryan Giggs and David Beckham were being eased back after injuries
00:39United old boy Gordon Strachan brought his Southampton side here in good form
00:43They had back-to-back wins to their credit
00:46Matt Oakley was injured, but Kevin Davis returned
00:50Sir Alex was one week shy of his 60th birthday
00:52He'd announced that this would be his last year in charge
00:55Did he really mean it?
00:57Time would tell
00:58Your commentator is Rob Palmer
01:04Southampton going to be carved up like the Christmas turkey this afternoon
01:09The 100th meeting between these two teams
01:12Can the Saints win their first ever Premiership match here?
01:16Throwing his weight around on his return to the North West
01:19James Beattie used to play up the road at Blackburn Rovers
01:26It's a good early ball
01:28Ruud van Nistelrooy doesn't miss
01:3130 seconds on the clock
01:33Manchester United mean business
01:37Good tidings he brings
01:51Goal 15 of the season
01:53Goal 15 of the season
01:55Simplicity
01:56No defender around
01:57The goalkeeper left exposed on this winter's afternoon
02:02Ruud van Nistelrooy
02:04Goal 15
02:061-0 Manchester United
02:09It could be a long, cold, barren afternoon for Gordon Strachan and his side
02:24Williams
02:25Hesitant with the bounce
02:33Williams misses out midfield
02:35It's a great ball
02:36There's a chance for Beattie
02:38You have to take those chances at Old Trafford
02:44He looks shocked
02:45He should be
02:47Wonderful ball from Williams
02:49Weighted
02:50Caught out Blanc and Neville
02:52He had all the time in the world
02:54Or so it seemed, James Beattie
02:56And blew it
03:00There is of course a precedent for a team coming back this season from behind at Old Trafford
03:06Bolton Wanderers were trailing
03:09For the first time ever in a Premiership game
03:12At the Theatre of Dreams
03:14Rebounded to win the game
03:21Scholes
03:22Great ball
03:23Silvestri
03:25Has the pick of the players to wait for
03:27Solskjaer's at the near post
03:31It's a breath away from being the second
03:34Without gigs to provide the crosses
03:36Manchester United using their imagination
03:39Great run by Silvestri
03:51Jason Dodd
03:55Pahars
03:58Loose ball
03:59Seized upon by Solskjaer
04:02Jones to the rescue
04:03It's not a bad ball actually
04:05Deep into the United territory
04:07Beattie nods it down
04:08Composure regained by Nicky Butt
04:16Ferran
04:18No support
04:19Far post is Van Nistelrooy
04:20Great ball
04:22Van Nistelrooy twists and turns and tantalises
04:24And almost scores
04:29With the two players who cost almost 50 million pounds in the summer between them
04:34Combined
04:35The Argentinian to the Dutchman
04:41Temperatures below zero
04:43It's turning Sir Alex's
04:45Nose as red as Rudolf's
04:50Van Nistelrooy
04:52Ferran
04:55Philip Neville
05:10There have been some
05:11Big scoring fixtures between these two teams
05:15Over the years
05:19On George Best
05:20Who I know will be watching
05:21Scored a hat-trick
05:23Back
05:24In November
05:25Of 71 in this game
05:30Roy Keane
05:32Round the back
05:33Williams
05:34Intercepts
05:35And then collides with the advertising horning
05:39Keane is back to his very best
05:40Talk about leading by example
05:49Van Nistelrooy
05:51Van Nistelrooy
05:53One
05:54Solskjaer's corner
05:56Volley
05:57Blocked by Williams
05:58Though he knew nothing about it
05:59Keane back in
06:00Van Nistelrooy
06:01He can do no wrong
06:06The golden
06:07Goal getter
06:08Does it again
06:14Van Nistelrooy's goal scorer
06:16One of a kind
06:17Rebound
06:18The ball sticks to him like a magnet, and then a simple side foot.
06:27Saints alive at the moment, not very likely.
06:38Well, it was a comedy of errors, really, in the Southampton defence.
06:42And the man who had the last laugh, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
06:46If looks could kill, there'd be a few casualties out there.
06:53But, Philip Neville to Paul Scholes.
07:00The manager won't admit it, but the players are much happier with the 4-4-2 formation.
07:06He's experimented early season with a 1-1 strike force and five in midfield.
07:15There have been a couple of changes to be a much more settled team.
07:20More formulaic Manchester United.
07:25Of course, the manager hasn't named an unchanged team in 72 league matches now.
07:34Telfer.
07:36Bartosz's ball, surely, rises high.
07:46Marianne Pahars has had a quiet afternoon. Blanc.
07:52Hardly broken sweat.
07:57Philip Neville.
08:15Manchester United, again, a huge psychological advantage.
08:22Playing on Saturday, putting the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal.
08:27Sunday fixture.
08:45Nicky Butt.
08:52Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
08:54Nice touch through to Nicky Butt.
08:56Lundqvist takes out that no-risks policy.
09:00Nicky Butt, change of corner taker.
09:04Away's the cry from Jones. Nobody listens.
09:07And Solskjaer makes it 3-0 United.
09:15The Southampton goal.
09:18And it's in.
09:20And it's in.
09:22And it's in.
09:23And it's in.
09:28The Southampton defenders had all gone home for Christmas.
09:37Beware of high-flying Norwegians.
09:43Not the truest touch.
09:47But a deadly touch.
09:503-0 Manchester United.
09:543-0 Manchester United.
10:00Suddenly there's a completely different complexion on the top of the premiership.
10:05You look at Manchester United's next two games, Everton and Fulham,
10:09you'd expect a maximum six points.
10:14Could be a long New Year's Day as well as they have the current leaders,
10:17Newcastle United, in town.
10:19It's always a classic game.
10:24FULL-TIME WHISTLE
10:29Whistle goes.
10:30Cheers from the United fans.
10:32The game we expect is already won.
10:34It took 30 seconds for Ruud van Distelrooy to score the first,
10:37his second ten minutes before half-time.
10:40Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his name on the score sheet yet again.
10:44Southampton, it appears, are on for a beating for the second year in a row
10:49at Old Trafford, half-time.
10:51Manchester United, 3-0 Southampton.
10:57No changes at half-time.
10:59Significance of that is that Beckham and Giggs are still on the bench.
11:04Manchester United in the driving seat.
11:07They've so far not really moved out of third gear.
11:14More, maybe worse, is to come.
11:16Can Southampton hold out for longer than the 30 seconds
11:19that they withstood in the first half?
11:39Gary Neville.
11:41Perfect pass for Veron.
11:45Solskjaer begins to skate.
11:47Veron takes it off him. Handball.
11:50It was, but not intentional. Veron doesn't wait around.
12:02Solskjaer putting fear into the hearts of the Saints defenders again.
12:13Mistake by Blanc.
12:16Beattie lost his feet.
12:18Blanc acknowledges that he tapped his ankle.
12:23If only Beattie had scored when he had that chance
12:27at a 1-0 to Manchester United.
12:37The Frenchman desperately trying to communicate
12:41Spanish-speaking Argentinian Juan Sebastian Veron ahead of him.
12:52It's an inventive free kick, which was patted down by Barthez.
12:57Full marks for ideas from Southampton.
13:01Much of the talk this season has been about the European Player of the Year,
13:05Michael Owen, and his goals.
13:07Gary Henry and his magnificence in the Arsenal attack.
13:10But Ruud van Mistelrooy hasn't always grabbed the headlines.
13:14He's got his third double of the season this afternoon.
13:19His tally, 16 goals, 9 in the league.
13:28Laurent Blanc.
13:33His goals.
13:35But...
13:37Solskjaer.
13:39Takes on all-comers, flicks it through.
13:41Van Mistelrooy for the hat-trick!
13:46Easy does it.
13:49This could well be the afternoon where the Premiership
13:54veered back in the direction of Manchester.
14:06Van Mistelrooy, the expert in those situations.
14:15Perfectly played through by Paul's goals.
14:17Not a whack.
14:20Not powerful.
14:22But sensationally placed by the Flying Dutchman.
14:28Money well spent, Sir Alex.
14:30It's 4-0 to Manchester United.
14:35WHISTLE BLOWS
14:50Absolutely clueless.
14:52What can Gordon Strachan do?
14:55It is now damage limitation.
14:57The signs are not good.
14:59Occasionally, at the end of last season,
15:02Manchester United would take pity on their opponents.
15:05It's Pahars!
15:07Consolation for the Saints.
15:11Bang goes the Manchester United clean sheet.
15:14And just a warning, maybe, that they can't get too cocky.
15:19Good teams will take the chances.
15:22Barthez with an unfortunate kick.
15:25For Ron Moore to blame for his miscontrol.
15:28Pahars with his one chance of the afternoon.
15:31Nicely taken.
15:33I don't think you can really blame Barthez for that one.
15:36It was going out of play, had the Ron not intercepted.
15:40Pahars' gleeful of the gift.
15:42Two goals in a minute. Southampton are back.
15:46Neville bowled over.
15:57Laurent Blanc.
15:58Philippe Neville.
16:01Varane.
16:03Obviously, his confidence hasn't been affected.
16:06Strictly works his way out of defence.
16:08Keane to scores.
16:12Not sure if that was a shot.
16:14Bridge is delivery.
16:31Barthez lets it go.
16:32Marsden flicks it down.
16:34Gary Neville shows how to clear a ball.
16:38So does Williams.
16:40Route 1 stuff from Southampton.
16:43Route 1 stuff from Manchester United.
16:47Next break of play.
16:49Southampton are likely to introduce Brett Omeron.
16:53Used to play just along the road.
16:55Close to Blackpool Beach.
16:57For the Tangerines, their recent signing.
17:01Scorer.
17:02Prolifically of goals in the lower leagues.
17:05Candidate on the big stage against Manchester United.
17:09Jason Dodd.
17:11Oh, it's a flick.
17:12And Barthez makes a wonder save.
17:15Well, if he had any blame attached to him in the Southampton goal,
17:20he's just made up for it miraculously.
17:38Kevin Davis.
17:40The player sacrificed.
17:42He's had a pretty miserable afternoon.
17:44And on comes Brett Omeron.
17:51Surely he's not going to play with that hat on, is he?
17:54Notches his boots.
17:57Can he get a chance to work through that back injury?
18:02The official reason he's been kept out for the last four matches.
18:09Beattie.
18:11Good footwork.
18:12And he created an opportunity.
18:16On a better day, James Beattie may have scored a hat-trick.
18:20And maybe he's been over-roared by
18:24the theatre of dreams this afternoon.
18:27He's fluffed his lions on the big stage.
18:34Well, game in the bag.
18:37Sixty-five minutes gone.
18:39Sir Alex feels he can chance a couple of his substitutes.
18:46Beron's been brilliant in midfield.
18:49Solskjaer, lethal in attack.
18:53Game in the bag.
18:55On comes David Beckham.
18:59Fans are happy with that.
19:02And he'll have a partner
19:05on the other wing in Ryan Giggs.
19:11Surprisingly, Southampton have had
19:14almost 60% of the possession in the second half.
19:21Goals have been shared.
19:24But Van Nistelrooy on the prowl.
19:27Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored five goals in a couple of matches for Man Utd
19:31as Van Nistelrooy almost deflected in his fourth of the afternoon.
19:42Mickey Butt.
19:45Beckham.
19:48Van Nistelrooy.
19:50Giggs.
19:51Roy Keane.
19:52Goal!
19:53Five for Manchester United.
19:55Roy Keane's 50th career league goal.
20:02Manchester United's goal scored by number 16, Roy Keane.
20:10A landmark for him and maybe now he's thinking
20:13that there is a possibility he could lift
20:17the championship trophy in May.
20:20Sir Alex Ferguson hoping that in eight days' time
20:24he can celebrate his 60th birthday in style.
20:28Here's where money won't be getting a card from.
20:30One of his ex-players from his Aberdeen and Manchester United days.
20:38Fabian Barthez.
20:45Marston intercepts. Giggs gives it away.
20:48Beattie tries to get there. Blanc sails him.
20:53Now Giggs.
20:55No sign of those aching hamstrings.
20:59Philip Neville leading the Manchester United charge.
21:02Taking on all comers.
21:04Oh, it's six!
21:06An unlikely source.
21:10Philip Neville with a wonder goal.
21:16He only has three others in his video scoring scrapbook.
21:21That was the goal of Philip Neville's career.
21:24For one moment the fans had to check that they got the scorer right.
21:33Philip Neville takes a leaf out of Giggs or Beckham's book.
21:36He actually pointed to the defender to say go there
21:39and then whisked it in for United's sixth,
21:42their 11th goal in the last two home matches.
21:46Blanc, a nutmeg.
21:49Indignation. Scores.
21:52Beckham.
21:55Full flight. A man with a point to prove.
21:58Beware of David Beckham.
22:05He normally saves his goals until the 90th minute to be fair.
22:08He's done that a few times this season.
22:11Marston for Saffanton.
22:15Gary Neville.
22:18Just the one blot on the United copybook today.
22:21That's Marion Pajar's goal.
22:24There is Pajar's.
22:27Beattie.
22:35Ryan Giggs.
22:38Ryan Giggs
22:40to fellow substitute David Beckham.
22:43Can they do enough to get back in the team, I wonder.
22:49Beckham.
22:51Woolworth.
22:55Woolworth gets it back.
22:57Now Ryan Giggs.
23:00Fed.
23:02An exquisite little chip
23:06from Philip Neville.
23:11He can hardly contain himself, Philip Neville.
23:14What is he on?
23:35Brett Omerod.
23:38Gets around Laurent Blanc.
23:40Not once, but twice, and puts in the cross.
23:42And goes for a corner.
23:55Barthez's flick out.
23:57Barthez has lost his footing.
23:58Backflip from Marston.
24:00Oh, Barthez. Brilliant.
24:02This has been the complete team performance.
24:05Six goals at one end,
24:07and a very brave performance at the other.
24:15Brett Omerod.
24:18Probably the one Southampton player
24:20who will remember this afternoon fondly.
24:23At times this season there's been a
24:25cheap imitation on offer of Manchester United.
24:30This is the club which has been hallmarked with quality
24:32over the last few years.
24:33This is a flick over the top.
24:35Brett Omerod can't get his goal
24:37to match Manchester United's
24:39sensational six at Old Trafford.
24:42A sack full of goals
24:44brought to them by Santa
24:45and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
24:47Three crackers
24:48for the Dutchman.
24:50Takes his tally this season to 17.
24:52Manchester United
24:54are back in the hunt for the title.
24:56They beat Southampton 6-1.
25:00Indeed, Sir Alex's men were back in the title race
25:02a reviving performance
25:04after some rocky times at Old Trafford.
25:06But the cracks were beginning to appear.
25:08Autumn's inconsistency
25:10would eventually cost the Red Devils dear
25:12as they finished the campaign in third place
25:15behind Arsenal and Liverpool,
25:17their worst ever position in the Premier League.
25:19Southampton recovered well after this
25:21and were happy enough to win the title.