Manchester United 2-1 Southampton: Premier League as It Happened
By on January 29, 2013
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Clive Mason/Getty Images
Premier League Final Score: Manchester United 2-1 Southampton, Old Trafford
Goals: Rodriguez 3' (Soton), Rooney 8', 27' (Man Utd)
Manchester United: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Anderson, Welbeck, Rooney, Kagawa, RVP. Subs: Lindegaard, Rafael, Rio, Nani, Valencia, Cleverley, Buttner.
Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fox, Puncheon, Cork, Schneiderlin, Ramirez, Lambert, Rodriguez. Subs: K. Davis, S. Davis, Lee, Lallana, Richardson, Shaw, Chaplow.
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90+3'- Lallana and Hooiveld both have late efforts blocked, as Lee Mason blows his whistle at the perfect moment for United fans.
The Red Devils claim a vital three points thanks to two strikes from Wayne Rooney following an early Jay Rodriguez effort.
Southampton were much improved in the second half, but couldn't find the break through they needed.
Thanks for joining me, and make sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the reaction to this, and the other Premier League games taking place tonight.
92'- Rooney makes a great tackle at the feet of Clyne near the touchline as time ticks away for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
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90'- Yet more Saints pressure as they bombard the United box with plenty of crosses towards the aerially dominant Lambert.
Southampton have dominated this second half, and perhaps deserve a point for their efforts.
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88'- United can't get the ball back as Southampton pass it around with ease.
The ball almost breaks to Lallana following a Lambert nod down, but the Englishman tries a nifty backheel when shooting would have been the best option.
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86'- Great chance Lambert inside the United box, but Nemanja Vidic makes a captain's block to keep his side in front.
Nervous times for the Old Trafford faithful. Just over 5 minutes to play.
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84'- Adam Lallana swings a free kick into the United box, but the Red Devils clear with ease.
This is the first time the two sides have played at Old Trafford since December 2004. Southampton have certainly given a good account for themselves, as they did earlier in the season at St. Mary's.
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81'- Wayne Rooney is sent clear one-on-one, but a heavy touch takes him too close to Boruc and the keeper claims at his feet.
It's finished 2-2 at the Emirates between Arsenal and Liverpool. The away side were 2-0 up at one point.
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79'- Fantastic diving save by David de Gea to stop a goalbound Rickie Lambert free kick. Terrific stuff from the Spanish shot-stopper.
Manchester United 2-1 Southampton
76'- Robin van Persie has the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman raises his flag at the last second.
Replays show the call was marginal... too close to call. Who'd be an official?
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74'- Nani on for Kagawa for United as Sir Alex makes another change. The Japanese playmaker had a great first half, but faded rather badly in the second.
73'- Clyne gets behind Evra to the byline, crosses to Lambert at the far post, but Rio Ferdinand rises highest to head clear.
The Red Devils have more points at this stage of the Premier League season, than they have ever had in the competition's history. Still a long way to go before the title is theirs, though.
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71'- Michael Carrick spreads possession out to the left flank to Welbeck, who controls well, but play breaks down with a poor Wayne Rooney pass moments later.
It's been a horrible second half for the Red Devils, Southampton have clearly been the better team since the break.
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69'- Jay Rodriguez cracks a shot from miles out that impresses nobody.
Meanwhile, Sir Alex replaces Anderson with Rafael as Phil Jones moves into central midfield.
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67'- Yoshida intervenes to cut out a pass that would have sent Danny Welbeck clear on goal.
Southampton are really piling the pressure on United higher up the pitch, no one in a red shirt has time to dawdle at the moment.
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64'- Rio Ferdinand comes on for Chris Smalling as Sir Alex plucks for some more experience in the United defence.
Incidentally, Saints striker Rickie Lambert is only 2 goals away from the landmark total of 100 for the club. Now sure he can get them tonight, though.
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62'- Another hairy moment for de Gea as he drops a Rickie Lambert free kick, but recovers quickly before anyone can capitalise.
Southampton have had 65% of possession in this second half to United's 35%.
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60'- Nail-biting moments for the home fans as Southampton go close through Schneiderlin.
The Red Devils really need to score a third to be sure of victory tonight, the Saints really starting to look like they've got another goal in them.
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57'- Clyne takes on Evra down the right flank, but the Frenchman shows great strengh to prevent the cross being delivered into the penalty area.
Theo Walcott has scored to level things up for Arsenal at the Emirates, 2-2 against Liverpool now.
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55'- Kagawa swings a dangerous cross into the Southampton box, but Danny Welbeck's diving attempt at a header comes up short.
The Red Devils can go seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League table with a win tonight. Still all to play for.
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53'- Southampton are beginning to turn up the pressure at the moment, United seem content to play on the counter attack.
Playing on the left side of midfield, Shinji Kagawa is operating in a role very similar to one he's done for the Japan national team in the past.
Clive Mason/Getty Images
50'- Jay Rodriguez has a snap shot from just outside the area that's blocked by Vidic. The rebound falls nicely for Rickie Lambert to have a pop, but David de Gea claims comfortbaly.
Manchester United 2-1 Southampton
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48'- Adam Lallana has also come on for the second half for Southampton.
Meanwhile at the Emirates, Jordan Henderson has scored to put Liverpool 2-0 up against the home side.
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46'- We're back underway here as Southampton kick off.
Steven Davis on for Jason Puncheon as Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino makes an early switch.
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45+2'- The half time whistle blows and Manchester United head to the break a goal ahead thanks to two strikes from Wayne Rooney.
Southampton had pulled ahead early on following a Carrick/de Gea mix-up, but the Red Devils bounced back well.
Stay tuned for the second half, folks.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
45'- Kagawa wriggles away from Clyne near the touchline, but is tripped by the right-back as he starts to accelerate away.
It's been the Japanese International's best performance of the season so far tonight, playing in quite a free role in attacking midfield.
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