PL2 Report: United 3-1 Saints

United took the lead in the 39th minute, as Anthony Elanga volleyed home his own free kick’s rebound and found the far-left corner.

Their advantage was doubled less than a minute into the second half, Facundo Pellistri surging down the left flank and firing home at the near post for his first United goal.

Michael Obafemi scored his first Premier League 2 goal of the season in the 52nd minute to halve United’s lead.

The Saints sided which started at Leigh Sports Village was a far more familiar outfit to the one which lost to Brighton at St Mary’s on Monday.

Callum Slattery, Allan Tchaptchet and Obafemi were amongst those who kept their places, whilst Alex Jankewitz, Pascal Kpohomouh and Tyreke Johnson returned to the side.

Forward Pellistri, who trained with the first team during the week, was just one of the United line up with such experience who started for the hosts.

As if on cue the heavens opened on the referee’s whistle on what was a freezingly cold and now rather wet Manchester evening.

The opening few minutes painted an end-to-end picture as both sides sought for the early initiative.

Anthony Elanga looked to catch Saints’ Kingsley Latham off his line within the first ten minutes but failed to get the necessary height. The keeper easily palming his effort away from danger.

Saints showed signs of confidence in their early play too; Jankewitz producing a beautiful cross-field ball into the feet of Slattery, who drew his man in before firing an effort wide of the far post.

The forward partnership of Dan N’Lundulu and Obafemi clicked particularly well during the game’s primary stages, the pair feeding off each other with short, one-touch passes whilst using the direct runs of Caleb Watts and Slattery either side.

Obafemi looked like he was clean through on 19 minutes following a direct, over-the-top ball from Will Ferry. United keeper Paul Woolston doing well to spot the danger and collect the ball.

Johnson was next to have an effort for Saints from a tight angle which was well saved at the near post by Woolston.

United grabbed a chance of their own minutes later; Mark Helm cutting in from the left flank and forcing a strong Latham save down to his right-hand-side.

After Saints enjoyed a spell of pressure, United looked to building one of their own around the half hour mark. Elanga involved again, this time hitting his free kick just over the bar.

But the visitors’ threat remained on the break, Johnson reclaiming possession and feeding N’Lundulu, who looked to curl an effort into the far, top corner but failed to hit the target.

There was a blow however minutes later as skipper Slattery, who had been nursing a muscle injury since an early challenge, had to be replaced on 34 minutes.

Things got worse for Saints in the 39th minute, with the lively Elanga firing home his rebounded free-kick and giving United the lead.

The wall did its job on the initial effort, standing strong and blocking the set piece, only for the ball to drop back to the feet of Elanga who volleyed home.

It was the home side who had the futher chances following the breakthrough, Latham called upon on several occasions but proving equal to some strong United efforts towards his goal.

Saints will have felt slightly hard done-by to be 1-0 down, but that feeling got even more prominent less than a minute into the second half.

Pellistri burst down the left flank and fired past Latham at his near post, catching many at the Leigh Sports Village by surprise.

But Dave Horseman’s side did not back down, halving the lead just six minutes later.

Johnson found space inside the penalty box after a direct run, before squaring the ball into Obafemi, who finishing superbly into the bottom corner with a neat, one-touch finish.

Following the goal United almost replied instantly; Elanga will have felt frustrated after drilling his close-range effort wide of the far post.

From then on it was all Saints, the likes of Tchaptchet proving to be a continued threat from the many corners and set pieces that were being won as the pressure mounted.

Watts was next to have a goal after good hold-up play by Obafemi, but his shot was well blocked by United substitute Reece Devine.

On the break United should have scored a third; Elanga this time looking to turn provider by finding an unmarked Pellistri just inches away from goal, who could only rocket the crossbar from an area where it looked harder to miss.

The game began to open up as the final ten minutes came into view. United substitute Dillion Hoogerwerf hitting an effort from the edge of the box which Latham claimed well.

Johnson looked to bring the game to the hosts as clock ticked down, beating three men and cutting inside before winning a free kick just outside the penalty area. A set-piece which eventually only hit a tall United wall.

With six minutes added on Saints pressed for that all-important equaliser.

Benni-Smales-Braithwaite returned from injury to provide another attacking option for the final stages.

Saints had calls for a penalty three minutes into additional time, but the referee was not impressed with the claims, booking Ferry who argued his case.

But it was United who got the game’s fourth goal; Martinez firing home following a superb Latham save to deny his initial effort.

It ended 3-1 to the hosts with a score line which didn’t reflect the nature of the game.

Saints will look to bounce back as they host Leicester City at AFC Totton’s Snows Stadium next Saturday.

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