Can Southampton sustain superb scoring record against Man Utd?

Second-half winners courtesy of Charlie Austin (11/4 to strike again anytime) and Dusan Tadic (7/2 in that market) may have given Man Utd that smash-and-grab victims feeling, but Southampton scoring also has a ring of inevitability about it for other reasons.

No Small task to shut out Saints

Perhaps more significant than recent history is the fact United haven’t kept a clean sheet in their Community Shield and Premier League outings this season, and Saints have failed to score in a competitive game just once since March 1st.

That can be put down to new £30m man Eric Bailly bedding in, despite spells of impressive and athletic defending, and the absence of Chris Smalling – now the star Red Devils’ centre back – through suspension.

For all his improvement last term, Smalling has never been in a Man Utd side that has shut Southampton out. Yet, with Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane sold this summer, Mourinho’s men may change that.

A Red Devils clean sheet comes in as a 10/11 chance, but a win to nil is better at 6/5 if you’re thinking of siding with the hosts.

Visitors to have final say?

Yet Southampton scoring last is so common against United – in four of the previous six head-to-heads and all of the last three. That makes a 27/10 punt on them netting the final goal well worth a wager, not least because Puel has plenty of players to stretch the home team.

Winger Nathan Redmond made a scoring debut for Saints against Watford following a £10m move from Norwich City. Republic of Ireland frontman Shane Long, meanwhile, always offers plenty of graft up top.

Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was a victim of circumstance at Bayern Munich, and so highly-rated player signing for Southampton is a coup. He may make his full debut in the Man Utd match.

Young, energetic talents like Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse and Redmond being among the supporting cast mean Saints hold every chance of continuing that superb Red Devils scoring record.

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