Southampton raid Old Trafford to steal three points

Ronald Koeman will be dead chuffed to beat Louis van Gaal

Southampton leapfrogged Manchester United and moved up to third in the table after clinching an impressive 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, Alex Johnson reports..

Substitute Dusan Tadic scored the vital goal midway through the second period just six minutes after replacing Eljero Elia, who was making his Saints debut following his loan capture from Werder Bremen earlier this month.

Southampton's victory was built on a superb defensive effort and so good was their organisation that Louis van Gaal's side failed to have a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

It was United's first loss since they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in early November. In that time they have won seven and drawn three of their ten Premier League matches but they were far from their best against Ronald Koeman's side, who have recovered brilliantly from a sequence of four successive defeats.

Since losing at Burnley in mid-December, Southampton have taken 13 points from a possible 15 and now appear to be genuine top four contenders.

Southampton were on the front foot from the kick-off and Nathaniel Clyne's right-footed effort inside the first minute flashed across goal and narrowly wide of David de Gea's post.

The visitors were forced to reorganise in the 20th minute when they lost Toby Alderweireld to injury, the defender having to limp off the pitch after picking up a muscle problem when stretching to clear the ball away.

Florin Gardos came on and, although he struggled at times, the Saints defence remained largely untroubled by a stuttering United side with Angel di Maria, Robin van Persie and Antonio Valencia all failing to make an impression on the game.

In a half that was almost devoid of goalmouth action, United were unable to capitalise on Alderweireld's departure, although van Persie did have an effort blocked by Jose Fonte just before the interval.

United looked good in patches but they struggled to break down a well-organised Saints defence throughout the 90 minutes. They had most of the possession but too many passes were either sideways or backwards and their final ball was wayward on far too many occasions.

Southampton took the initiative at the start of the second half and former Saints star Luke Shaw, who was booed by the visiting fans until he was replaced by Tyler Blackett in the 64th minute, got in an outstanding block to keep Graziano Pelle's fierce volley out.

United finally managed to create an opening in the 54th minute but Phil Jones was unable to guide his header from Wayne Rooney's free-kick towards Fraser Forster's goal.

Southampton took the lead in the 69th minute when Tadic stroked the ball home after Pelle's shot had come back into play off a post.

The goal finally galvanised United, who had opportunities to grab an equaliser in the closing stages. Three chances fell to Juan Mata, but the Spaniard was unable to convert any of them.

With 11 minutes left the former Chelsea midfielder failed to find the target after Forster, who did not have one of his better games, with his kicking of particular concern, had flapped at a cross.

Inside 60 seconds later, Mata lifted substitute Ander Herrera's cross over the bar when it seemed easier to score and he had another opportunity to grab an equaliser in the 84th minute, only to snatch at his shot as the ball flew wide of the target.

Southampton saw out the five minutes of stoppage time with no more alarms as they clinched an impressive victory and gained revenge for last month's 2-1 home defeat to United.