Player Ratings: Southampton 0-3 Manchester

SOUTHAMPTON

Davis: 7.5 - Unlucky with the first goal after making a good stop from O’Shea initially, but had no chance with the other two. However, made a series of good stops throughout the 90 minutes to keep the scoreline down.

James: 6.0 – Supplied a decent cross for Gillett early on, but went missing at times at the back in the first half. However, did well against Nani in the second half with little support.

Perry:  6.5 - Some great covering play, especially against Carrick in the first half to deny what looked a certain second goal.

Lancashire: 6.0 - Lost O’Shea for the opener but had some good moments, particularly a super block late on to deny Rooney

Skacel: 6.0 - Ought to have done better against Welbeck for the opener and struggled at times against the champions.

Smith: 6.5 – Wasted Saints’ best chance after beating O’Shea but his shot was poor and failed to trouble van der Sar.

McGoldrick: 5.5- Had a couple of half chances and gave Evans something to think about. However, conceded a needless penalty from which United made it two and effectively settled the game.

Gillett: 6.0 – Contributed little; had one chance - a header directed straight at Van der Sar - and was replaced in the second half.

Surman: 6.5 – One of Southampton's better performers, heavily involved early on and kept going, refusing to give up hope.

Gobern: 5.5 - Offered little and no surprise to see him substituted.

Paterson: 5.0 - Lasted only 36 minutes after being rightly sent off for a dangerous looking tackle on Vidic.

Substitutions

Schneiderlin: 6.0 – Provided a little more impetus, but not enough.

McLaggon. 6.0 - Came on but made little impact.

Holmes: 6.0 – Provided fresh legs for the Saints but little else.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van der Sar: 6.0 – Had very little to do throughout the 90 minutes and will hardly have had an easier game.

Neville: 6.0 – Still far from his best, but a comfortable game for the United skipper. 

Evans: 6.5 - Caught out once by McGoldrick, but other than that did little wrong.

Vidic: 6.5 – Coped with what little was thrown at him with some ease and was rarely tested.

O'Shea: 6.5 - Uncharacterstically, he looked a threat in the opposition box. A great header to set up the opener and also squeezed an excellent ball through to Berbatov.

Nani: 6.5 – Stroked home the penalty and often got himself into good positions, but his delivery was too often poor and simply did not provide enough end product.

Anderson: 6.5 – Tried his luck with several decent shots, but still failed to open his goal-scoring account with Manchester United. Set up Welbeck for the opening goal and put in a decent midfield display.

Carrick: 7.0 - A major influence. Played some splendid balls in and around the box and ought to have scored, but was denied by Perry.

Giggs: 6.0 - Unusually quiet game for the veteran. Missed a good chance from close range and departed just short of the hour.

Welbeck: 7.0 – Might have done better at times but scored the opener and could, in truth, have had a hat trick but Davis saved his other two efforts either side of half time.

Berbatov: 7.0 - Ought to have scored when set up well by O’Shea but Davis saved. Some lovely touches created several opportunities and Southampton struggled to get near him.

Substitutions

Possebon: 6.0 - Comfortable in possession and did little wrong.

Gibson: 6.5 – A decent cameo after coming on. A good run and shot minutes after arriving and smashed home the third with an emphatic finish. 

Rooney: 7.0 - Came on and provided the spark his side had been missing. Had plenty of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net - but still set up Gibson for the third.

--Gill Clark, Goal.com