England - Premier League
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Played
September 2, 2012 4:00 PM BST
St. Mary's Stadium — Southampton, Hampshire
Referee:‬ M. Dean‎
Attendance:‬ 31609‎
 

Southampton - Manchester United Preview: Red Devils aiming for fifth-straight win at St Mary's

Nigel Adkins' side will be desperate to gain their first points of the Premier League season against Sir Alex Ferguson's men, who have lost three of their last four away games

By Joe Wright

More On :  Man Utd., Southampton, Southampton vs Man Utd.
Manchester City v Southampton, Rickie Lambert
Getty IMages
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

SOUTHAMPTON

Davis
Clyne, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox
Davis, Schneiderlin, Lallana
Rodriguez, Lambert, Lee
MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra
Cleverley, Carrick
Valencia, Kagawa, Nani
Van Persie

Southampton could well revert to the 4-3-3 system which served them so well against champions Manchester City on the opening day, with Championship Player of the Year Rickie Lambert expected to lead the line supported by Jay Rodriguez and Tadanari Lee out wide.

Guly Do Prado is expected to be left out of the squad following his off-the-field indiscretions, while new signing Maya Yoshida is unlikely to start, but could feature in the Saints squad. However, deadline day arrival Gaston Ramirez from Bologna was unable to be registered in time to participate.

Manchester United are expected to name the same side which beat Fulham 3-2 last Saturday. Jonny Evans made a full comeback in the reserves mid-week but is unlikely to be fit enough to return to first-team duties, meaning Michael Carrick will continue alongside Nemanja Vidic at centre-back.

With Wayne Rooney sidelined for the next month, Robin van Persie will almost certainly start at the head of a four-pronged forward line, with Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa forming the attacking fulcrum of the midfield.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Southampton boast an impressive recent home record in league football, winning 27 of their last 36 games across three divisions.
  • The Saints inflicted one of Manchester United's heaviest-ever Premier League defeats in October 1996, when an Egil Ostenstad hat-trick fired them to a 6-3 win.
  • Full-back Nathaniel Clyne (pictured right) was long linked with a move to Manchester United before ultimately signing for Nigel Adkins' side over the summer.
  • Southampton have won 38 per cent of matches at home against the Red Devils in the top flight. Only Chelsea and Arsenal boast better records.
  • Manchester United have lost three of their last four Premier League matches away from home. All four of those games have ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
  • The Red Devils have a superb recent record at St Mary's, however, winning on each of their last four visits.
  • Robin van Persie was sent off on his only appearance at the ground during Saints' 1-1 draw with Arsenal back in 2005.
  • Sir Alex Ferguson's side have allowed their opponents 13 shots at goal so this season - more than any other side in the top flight.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Southampton 0-3 Man Utd.
    19.33 %
  • Southampton 1-3 Man Utd.
    13.61 %
  • Southampton 0-2 Man Utd.
    10.73 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Jan 30, 2013 Man Utd. 2 - Southampton 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Sep 2, 2012 Southampton 2 - Man Utd. 3
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England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 29, 2011 Southampton 1 - Man Utd. 2
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England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 4, 2009 Southampton 0 - Man Utd. 3
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Last Five Matches
Southampton
May 19, 2013Southampton 1 - Stoke 1EPL
May 12, 2013Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1EPL
May 4, 2013Tottenham 1 - Southampton 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Southampton 0 - West Bromwich Albion 3EPL
Apr 20, 2013Swansea 0 - Southampton 0EPL
Man Utd.
May 19, 2013West Bromwich Albion 5 - Man Utd. 5EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Southampton £170.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £40.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Man Utd. £85.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Kelvin DavisGoalkeeper
13Daniel FoxDefender
5Jos HooiveldDefender
6Jose Rocha FonteDefender
2Nathaniel ClyneDefender
20Adam LallanaMidfielder
42Jason PuncheonMidfielder
16James Ward-ProwseMidfielder
4Morgan SchneiderlinMidfielder
8Steven DavisMidfielder
7Rickie LambertStriker
12Paulo GazzanigaGoalkeeper
22Frazer RichardsonDefender
25Daniel SeaborneDefender
21Guilherme Do PradoMidfielder
9Jay RodriguezStriker
19Tadanari LeeStriker
24Emmanuel MayukaStriker
13Anders LindegaardGoalkeeper
2RafaelDefender
3Patrice EvraDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
15Nemanja VidicDefender
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
23Tom CleverleyMidfielder
19Danny WelbeckStriker
20Robin van PersieStriker
26Shinji KagawaMidfielder
1David de GeaGoalkeeper
6Jonny EvansDefender
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
17NaniMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
25Nick PowellMidfielder
14Javier 'Chicharito' HernandezStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0