Martial hits double as Manchester United beat Saints to move second

Anthony Martial continued his fairytale start to life in the Premier League with a double that helped inspire Manchester United to a 3-2 win at Southampton that moves them up to second in the table.

The £36 million deadline-day signing from Monaco made it three goals in two league games to turn the contest on its head after Graziano Pelle had opened the scoring.

The Saints looked the more threatening in the early exchanges and deservedly led when Pelle tucked home the rebound after David De Gea had brilliantly denied Sadio Mane from James Ward-Prowse's sumptuous cross.

Pelle then hit the post before United drew level when the officials failed to flag Juan Mata offside, allowing the Spaniard to race onto a header forward and tee up Martial, who bamboozled Virgil van Dijk to fire past Maarten Stekelenburg.

A shocking backpass from Maya Yoshidia gifted Martial his second after the interval before De Gea produced another sensational save to deny Jose Fonte and retain the visitors' lead.

It proved vital as United stretched their advantage when Mata crashed in the rebound after Memphis Depay had hit the near post.

Pelle nodded in his second of the game late on to set up a grandstand finale but De Gea and co stood firm to see it out.

The result means Louis van Gaal's men are now just two points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

13' - GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 MAN UNITED. The Saints lead! Mane forces a top-class save out of De Gea from Ward-Prowse's delicious right-wing cross, but the stopper can do nothing to deny Pelle who gobbles up the rebound.

16' - SOUTHAMPTON CHANCE! It should be two! Pelle latches onto the ball on the edge of the area, shifts beyond Blind but sees his low shot crash off the outside of the post.

34' - GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-1 MAN UNITED. The Red Devils are level! It's a bit out of the blue, but they won't care. Mata, who looks well offside, latches onto a header forward and knocks it inside to Martial. The Frenchman turns his man brilliantly before slipping the ball under Maarten Stekelenburg.

50' - GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-2 MAN UNITED. United take the lead! Yoshida plays a weak backpass blind and pays the ultimate price as Martial races clear and coolly slots it beyond the keeper.

59' - SOUTHAMPTON CHANCE! De Gea somehow denies Southampton the equaliser. Tadic's corner is met by Fonte who can't believe his eyes as De Gea sticks out a left hand and pulls the ball back from the brink to keep United in front.

68' - GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-3 MAN UNITED. United grab the third! Depay cuts inside with some lovely skill and fizzes a low shot against the near post, but Mata is on hand to sweep home the rebound.

86' - GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 2-3 MAN UNITED Lifeline? Mane jinks down the right and crosses for Pelle who thumps a header into the top corner.

Man United have come from behind to defeat Southampton on eight occasions in the PL – the most by a team against any single opponent.

There were 45 passes in the build up to Mata's goal for Man Utd in this game; the most in the PL in 2015-16.

Anthony Martial is only the third player to score in both of his first two PL apps for Man United alongside Saha and Macheda.

Southampton have won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches (W2 D4 L6).

All five of the league meetings between Ronald Koeman and Louis van Gaal have ended as away wins.

David de Gea has not kept a clean sheet in the league in any of his last nine appearances in which he has played a full 90 minutes (since March 15)

The Saints have lost 23 Premier League matches against Manchester United, more than they have against any other opponent.

Wayne Rooney has gone 11 Premier League appearances without a goal, the longest barren spell of his career.

Manchester United have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight league games against the Saints.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

TALKING POINT. Anthony Martial. When Louis van Gaal and co agreed to pay Monaco a fee of £36 million rising to £58 million with add-ons, it's fair to say there were more than one or two raised eyebrows. The tabloids screamed waste of money, but just two league games on and Martial is showing why he has earned comparisons with Thierry Henry. It's early days, but signs are there he could well prove to be a superb signing for the Red Devils. Throw in retaining the excellent David De Gea in the transfer window, and United could yet end up looking back on a double masterstroke come May.

Anthony Martial (Manchester United). The striker deserves the award for scoring two goals that proved crucial in his side winning the match. David De Gea could easily lay claim to the gong too after he reaffirmed just how important he will be to United's hopes of success this season with some magnificent saves at key moments in the game.

SOUTHAMPTON: Stekelenburg 6, Yoshida 5, Fonte 6, van Dijk 5, Targett 6, Wanyama 6, Romeu 5, Ward-Prowse 7, Tadić 6, Mané 7, Pellè 8. Subs: Martina 6, Davis 6, Long 6.

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 9, Darmian 6, Smalling 6, Rojo 6, Blind 6, Carrick 6, Schneiderlin 6, Mata 7, Memphis 7, Rooney 5, Martial 9. Subs: Valencia 6, Schweinsteiger 7, McNair 6.