Southampton 2-3 Manchester United: player ratings

Manchester United bounced back from an utterly miserable defeat to PSV Eindhoven by winning 3-2 away at Southampton on Sunday. It was a strange game in which the Saints were thoroughly on top until midway through the first half, when they switched off and never quite managed to recover.

David de Gea: 8

To put it simply, United wouldn't have won this game without De Gea between the sticks. He couldn't be blamed for either of Southampton's goals, and between them made a string of excellent stops, the best of which came when he arched to claw a venomous José Fonte header from under the crossbar. It's not difficult to argue he's the best goalkeeper on the planet at present.

Marcos Rojo: 6

Certainly a performance without the dynamism of Luke Shaw, but it's worth remembering he's not a natural full-back. His positioning was occasionally suspect and his attacking contribution limited, but he did make a couple of vital defensive interventions in the penalty area to stop Southampton scoring, as well as babysitting a struggling Blind. A mixed bag.

Daley Blind: 5

Blind had a brutal first half, with Graziano Pellè clearly targeting his side of the pitch. The Italian striker's power and strength enabled him to bully the Dutchman, who only looked more confident when Southampton inexplicably shunted Pellè more central in the second period.

Chris Smalling: 6

Did fewer bad things than Blind, but we're struggling here. It wasn't his best display of the season.

Matteo Darmian: 4

WANTED
MATTEO DARMIAN'S AUGUST FORM
FOR GOING ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE
Should not be approached: liable to bully attackers and humiliate defenders
Last seen: before international break
REWARD: $100,000
and NEVER HAVING TO SEE ANTONIO VALENCIA AGAIN

Michael Carrick: 5

Plenty of sideways passing and a smattering of defensive hopelessness. A considerable downgrade on his performance against Liverpool last weekend.

Morgan Schneiderlin: 6

Schneiderlin almost rivaled Carrick in contributing to United's frustratingly slow, static build-up play, but the Frenchman was more useful as a defensive anchor. And wasn't his accent in the post-match interview so very dreamy?

Memphis Depay: 6

He was rather more quiet than in his impressive display against PSV in midweek, but it wasn't for the want of trying. It's clear he's working desperately to make a mark, and it's surely only a matter of time before he does. Produced some sharp skill before rattling the post in the run-up to United's third. Definitely worth persisting with.

Wayne Rooney: 3

If marks were given for passing backwards, pointing and shouting, our brave captain would have a sparkling 10.

They aren't.

Juan Mata: 7

It was another very neat and tidy performance from the impish attacker, and one capped with a goal. But while he invariably looked good on the ball, he saw frustratingly little of it. It'd be nice for him to be given a chance through the middle.

Anthony Martial: 8

Our hero. Industrious, calm, clinical.

Antonio Valencia (on for Darmian, 46'): 6

It was a solid defensive performance from Valencia, which was an improvement on Darmian, but he's still not contributed going forward for longer than we'd care to remember.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (on for Carrick, 60'): 6

A midfielder that runs! Who'd have thought it? Offered a movement and energy in midfield that Carrick didn't. Schweinsteiger wasn't afraid to run beyond opponents, and create angles through which United could bypass Southampton's lines of defence. If Ander Herrera's not going to be on the pitch, it seems an absolute necessity that Schweini is.

Paddy McNair (on for Rojo, 69'): 5

Should've done better for Southampton's second goal, when Pellè headed home unchallenged.

The Busby Babe would like to cordially remind you that taking marks out of ten too seriously can prove deleterious to your health.