Football news - United recover from terrible start but only draw at Southampton

Two miserable teams, but two miserable teams with some decent players, gave us a miserable game featuring a selection of lovely goals in the first half and absolute dross in the second as Manchester United drew 2-2 at Southampton. The hosts stay 18th but will appreciate the point; United stay seventh and will not.

In the early stages, United enjoyed the more possession but struggled to create anything, and on 12 minutes went behind when Stuart Armstrong took advantage of decent foraging from Nathan Redmond to spank a fine finish across David de Gea. And eight minutes later Southampton had another, Cedric’s brilliant free-kick giving De Gea - and Scott McTominay, cunningly crouched behind the wall - no chance.

A two-goal deficit finally tempted United to compete, and as Paul Pogba grew into the game they began to look dangerous. On 33 minutes, Romelu Lukaku punched home his first goal since September after good work from Pogba and Marcus Rashford, then shortly afterwards Rashford did superbly to tee-up Ander Herrera, whose back-flicked finish was lovely.

The second half was a non-event, neither side able to fashion even a solitary chance. Southampton looked the more dangerous, such as it was, while United were slow, stodgy and clueless. A top-four finish is surely out of their reach already, not just because they are too far behind but because there is no realistic prospect of improvement. Southampton, meanwhile, should have far too much quality to go down, and will take succour in how they responded to losing their lead.

What is Mourinho trying to do? Though his team selection was affected by injury, there was no need for him leave his strikers so isolated. And more than that, he continually picks teams that he hopes will do a job, lists of names and nothing more, rather than teams playing in a particular way and which might grow into something worth seeing and worth keeping.

Nathan Redmond (Southampton): Really this should be RON, but given that re-opening nominations isn't an option, Redmond was the game's most dangerous player in the second half so gets the nod by default.

Southampton: McCarthy 6, Valery 6, Yoshida 6, Vestergaard 5, Stephens 5, Cedric 6, Hojbjerg 6, Lemina 6, Armstrong 6, Redmond 6, Obafemi 6. Subs: Gabbiadini 6, Davis 6.

Manchester United: De Gea 6, Young 5, Jones 6, McTominay 5, Matic 5, Shaw 6, Fellaini 5, Herrera 6, Pogba 5, Lukaku 5, Rashford 6. Subs: Dalot 6, Martial 6, Lingard 6.

12’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Manchester United (Armstrong) Southampton enjoy a nice passage of possession and the ball moves into the box with Redmond after Matic misses a tackle and then Fellaini does likewise. He bundles between two more men, then feeds Obafemi, who turns and sets Armstrong on the right of the box ... and he punishes a belter of a drive across De Gea and into the far corner!

20’ - GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Manchester United (Cedric) McTominay crouches behind the wall, clever clever, and Cedric caresses a perfect free-kick, over the wall and curling away from De Gea, inside the near post. Brilliant!

33’ - GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Maxchester United (Lukaku) Pogba takes possession off Jones and waves arms for movement ahead of him. Eventually Rashford shows it and though the long pass hits his shins, he does brilliantly to win the ball back before turning to square for Lukaku, through Stephens' legs, and Lukaku punches a powerful sidefooter high into the net. That's his first goal since September.

39’ - GOAL! Southampton 2-2 Manchester United (Herrera) Great finish but this is all Marcus Rashford. He takes possession at inside-right, 40 yards from goal, and following a lovely turn, streaks to the line. Then, with the ball almost out of play, he spins into a low cross that Herrera backflicks home at the near post! What a team!