Van Nistelrooy flies the flag

Before kick-off the crowd was treated to a dragon dance to celebrate the Chinese year of the sheep. Afterwards there could be no bleating from Southampton as they were comprehensively beaten by one of the big boys for the second successive Premiership home match.

This was a must-win match for Manchester United – and it showed. Make no mistake, the Saints did well, at least for the first hour. It is just that United were irrepressible. Fresh from not having played in midweek they were driven by the fire of Roy Keane and the firepower of Ruud van Nistelrooy and gave an almost faultless performance. The chase is truly on.

This display was only ruined by Arsenal's last-minute winning goal at Highbury and an injury to Fabien Barthez after an aerial collision with Michael Svensson in the first half. "It can't be that bad," said Southampton manager Gordon Strachan. "He was sitting in my office for the second half smoking fags. Someone should have told him it is a no smoking area." Not a question of him running out of puff then. Still, Barthez left the ground on crutches with a badly bruised thigh.

Bizarrely, Southampton also lost a goalkeeper with Antti Niemi going off minutes before the end after he bravely smothered another burst by the impressive Van Nistelrooy only to be caught by the player's boot. Again, it did not look serious – but when was the last time both goalkeepers were substituted in a Premiership game?

When also did Manchester United have to wait until February to record their first clean sheet away from home? Sir Alex Ferguson pointed out that statistic and added that yesterday's display was "a barometer of our general form".

He pulled a tactical trick by playing the rejuvenated Ryan Giggs just behind the main strikers in what was effectively a three-man attack. Shorn of Wayne Bridge and with Claus Lundekvam surprisingly included despite a rib injury, the home side struggled to cope.

It was not the best preparation for Strachan, especially as his side had surrendered their unbeaten home record against Liverpool in their last League match at St Mary's. New signings Danny Higginbotham and David Prutton did not complete their moves in time, although he did include the Argentinian winger Frederico Arias on the bench. Prutton, in particular, represents something of a transfer coup at £2.5m from Nottingham Forest.

Ferguson, although Paul Scholes was struck down by flu, was able to include Mikaël Silvestre and switched him inside to centre-half after the break to cope with the pace of James Beattie, who probably impressed the watching Sven Goran Eriksson with another aggressive display. The Swede has already dropped a heavy hint that the young striker will be included in the England squad announced this week by saying he "deserves'' selection.

Eriksson probably wishes he could also include the much-coveted French winger Fabrice Fernandes, who almost scored after just five minutes in a storming start by the Saints. However, his drive was tipped over spectacularly by Barthez.

But then United shifted up a gear. On 15 minutes David Beckham scooped the ball down the line to the overlapping Gary Neville who crossed for Van Nistelrooy to sidefoot his volley fiercely into the roof of the net. Strachan later said it was "a comedy goal'' in terms of the defending, but it was also an excellent strike.

The goal knocked Southampton back and they were undone again just seven minutes later when Giggs scored at the second attempt after a fine dummy by Juan Sebastian Veron from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dogged run and cross. It stunned the crowd but they were roused moments later when Keane bundled over Jo Tessem in the six-yard box as the striker attempted to reach a cross. Amazingly, the referee waved away the penalty appeals and the Saints' chance had gone.

Southampton had recovered from a two-goal deficit at home earlier in the season to win 4-2 but that was against Fulham. This was Manchester United. "We really needed something then but did not get it. It was a penalty,'' Strachan said. Despite forcing a series of corners, they threatened little while Van Nistelrooy should have put the visitors further ahead but was forced wide by the goalkeeper.

After the break Southampton ran out of steam, such was their effort to stay in touch with United. The game descended into a series of niggling fouls and failed to match the entertainment provided in the first half, although United frequently threatened to extend their lead and had their own legitimate penalty appeal turned down.

Unsurprisingly, Van Nistelrooy – who had caught Niemi moments earlier – was booed when he was substituted at the end. It was probably accompanied by a sense of relief among the home fans – as was the final whistle.

Southampton 0 Manchester United 2
Van Nistelrooy 15, Giggs 22

Half-time: 0-2 Attendance: 32,085