Our South Coast Savior: Robin van Persie

Would United’s historic difficulty with Southampton rear its ugly head or would the Saints look like they’ve been promoted one division too far?

Full credit goes to Nigel Adkins for successive promotions and setting up to attack the Red Devils. Why not? You’re at home. Go for it.

Sir Alex’s set-up involved the 4-2-3-1, with Lindegaard and Rio added to the backline as well as Carrick and Cleverly in front of the back four. Welbeck, Kagawa, and Valencia next, with van Persie allowed a roam across the front and drift as desired. This formation relies heavily on Evra to push forward for width, as Welbeck often pinched central to play off RVP’s movement.

The match started with United dominating and probing the Saints, who did not touch of the ball for the first few minutes. Maybe this is a walk in the park.

On the contrary, Southampton pushed forward and attacked, leaving their right flank exposed, if caught in possession.

But, it was United who gifted the Saints the ball on this flank, getting two midfielders caught pressing forward, as they could only watch helplessly as the ball was pinged wide for a diagonal cross that saw Lambert rise above Rafael to make it 1-0.

United wouldn’t be outdone, however, as it was soon 1-1 from an identical cross from Valencia to van Persie drifting on the far post, who chested it down superbly as the fullback fell and drilled home his trademark left-foot, far-post laser.

At half, pundits wondered aloud if the Saints could keep up with United, as chasing possession and defending becomes tiresome.

Yet, nobody predicted that Southampton would better the Red Devils for important stretches of the second half, creating nearly as many chances as Ferguson’s men.

When a player, who has never scored a home goal, does, you know you’re in serious trouble.

Again, United concede another goal from a cross, as Evra slips, with slapstick, comic affect, and Schneiderlin heads the ball across goal for a 2-1 lead.

Unbelievable.

Soon afterwards, Sir Alex makes needed changes, as Scholes comes for Cleverly as well as Nani replaces Kagawa, with Welbeck moving central and the number seventeen heading wide left. A much more balanced attack now for United to challenge a Southampton side tempted to sit back, defend, and hit on the counter.

Immediately, Scholes’ insertion pays dividends, as he sends an exquisite through ball to RVP, who forces a point blank shot from Davis.

United up the pressure, leaving themselves a little exposed at times, searching for the equalizer. The final ball seemed fleeting for the Reds, with the Saints difficult to breakdown with nine behind the ball, especially with poor crossing and possession cheaply given away.

Would this be another one of those days?

In the 69^th minute, Nani gratefully intercepts Davis’ poor clearance, which he brings wide, pirouettes and plays a cross to RVP’s feet on the spot. Fonte rips down the number twenty from behind during his turn: a stone-cold penalty.

Finally, the breakthrough that United need.

Up steps the lethal van Persie, who decides, unfortunately, to cheekily chip the keeper, plays the ball too low, and Davis reaches back to swat it wide. A major chance wasted.

All signs point to it being exactly one of those furiously frustrating days.

United keep up the pressure, though, which leads to a corner, with only minutes left before stoppage time.

Nani over hits yet another corner, which gets played wide, then back into the box, where a wide open Rio sees his header clang off the inside of the post right to the gleeful van Persie. We’re tied just like that. Escape hatch released.

The stunned Saints can’t believe their luck, conceding another late goal to a Manchester club. Four minutes of injury time remain.

Again, the Red Devils surge forward against a wounded opponent. Another Fonte turnover, then his mishit clearance give United a corner with two minutes to play.

For all the shtick I give Nani for poor corners, the number seventeen got inch-perfect the defining cross of the match.

The Portuguese played the near-post corner perfectly to a darting RVP, who flicks a picture-perfect, glancing header up and over Davis and just under the bar. Stunning is an understatement, as it’s an absolutely brilliant turn for the Red Devils.

We’ve witnessed two goals-of-the-week candidates in successive matches for van Persie, who continues to justify his expensive price tag and Sir Alex’s acumen.

Where would United be without the Dutchman? Shudder the thought.

Now we move on, needing the Rio-Vidic partnership to gain form, the midfield to keep possession and pressure the ball better on the flanks, and up the tempo out wide to break down opponents.

So, would United’s historic difficulty with Southampton rear its ugly head or would the Saints look like a side promoted one division too far?

Little did we know the football Gods would agree with both sides of the supposition.

How fitting it is that the United players should thank their manager with a typical, come-from-behind victory, that a quintessential trait of his clubs: never giving up, believing, and scoring late on for what seems like the thousandth time to secure another improbable and vital victory.

We all adore Sir Alex Ferguson.

And that Robin van Persie chap isn’t so bad himself.