Ex-Gunner Ramsdale is not enough as Southampton are picked apart by Man United in 3-0 humbling

By Alessandro Schiavone at St Mary's

Southampton FC 0-3 Manchester United

Goals: De Ligt, Rashford, Garnacho

Aaron Ramsdale shipped already his SIXTH goal in just his second outing for Southampton as Manchester United take all three points back north from the south coast.

But the Arsenal one-timer, who was anything but impeccable on Marcus Rashford's low curler which led to the rampant visitors' second, turned a prospective humiliation into a relatively dignified defeat.

If anything, Southampton forward Cameron Archer should carry the can for how things turned out as he missed a crucial penalty with the scoreline tied at 0-0. And not the new £18million capture from the Emirates.

If Archer's soft spot-kick wasn't bad enough, his second bite at the cherry was even worse as he headed the resulting rebound into Andre Onana's arms.

Man United, led at the back by an imperious Matthijs de Ligt who bounced back from his horror show against Germany in Amsterdam midweek, never looked back from that moment on.

Early in the game, Ramsdale kept out Joshua Zirkzee's toe poke from Eriksen's delivery. But he couldn't have done much to prevent de Ligt from getting his name on the Premier League scoresheet for the first-time when he powered home a flying header.

Erik ten Hag's visitors appeared to have used the international break to good effect.

And after Ramsdale made a good save from Amad Diallo at the near-post, Rashford added to the Saints' woes.

Afforded time and space to cut into his preferred right foot outside the box, he had a crack.

Ramsdale saw it too late and was probably unsighted by his own players.

Yet that he is made of sterner stuff was proven once again when he denied de Ligt a brace by storming off his line.

It wasn't for a lack of trying or effort but Southampton simply didn't have the weapons to pull one back. Or maybe they couldn't match Ramsdale's quality in most areas of the pitch. A top goalkeeper is cruciql for any team's fortunes but only gets you so far.

And Martin Russell's men had to thank him again when his flying fingertip save dented Rashford's own hopes of a double.

Down to ten men after Jack Stephens was given the marching orders for a cynical challenge on Alejandro Garnacho, the burgeoning Argentine star rounded things off with a confident finish from Diogo Dalot's cutback.

And if the win will have done Ten Hag and his players a world of good after back-to-back defeats, the same can't be said about Russell whose side have slipped to four miserable defeats from as many games.

Their character can't be faulted yet they ladk quality especially in the middle of the park.

And if Ramsdale, who fought fire with fire wasn't to blame, his teammates need to come up with answers, starting with what already looks like a relegation six-pointer at Ipswich Town next week.

Lose that too and Premier League newbie Russell's days may be counted.