Jose Mourinho praises Manchester United's defensive resolve as they grind out win at Southampton to keep pace at Premier League summit

Jose Mourinho praised the influence of his central defensive pairing of Eric Bailly and Phil Jones as Manchester United resisted Southampton's pressure throughout Saturday's 1-0 victory at St Mary's.

After Romelu Lukaku's 20th-minute finish gave United the lead, they struggled to perform with the same fluent authority that has inspired their fine start to the season as Southampton significantly improved - albeit without creating an equaliser.

That they remained goalless owed as much to the hosts' long-term struggles in the final third as the form of Bailly and Jones, which comes after the years of instability that followed the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Jose Mourinho implores more effort from his Manchester United players at Southampton

Jose Mourinho implores more effort from his Manchester United players at Southampton

Eric Bailly (left) and Phil Jones (centre) helped United keep Southampton at bay

Eric Bailly (left) and Phil Jones (centre) helped United keep Southampton at bay

Chris Smalling also came off the bench to offer United additional defensive steel

Chris Smalling also came off the bench to offer United additional defensive steel

United also spent £31million recruiting Victor Lindelof during the summer, amid the expectation that he would succeed Jones, who has since regularly started for England, and asked of their performances, Mourinho responded: 'Very good.


'And also (substitute Chris) Smalling. We did for 20 minutes what the majority of the Premier League teams are doing, which is to play defensively with five at the back.

'We did that for 20 minutes. We had chances to kill the game and score the second goal, but didn't.

'Then, Southampton were strong. I felt the manager (Mauricio Pellegrino) enthusiastic, exciting, risking bringing on two strikers like (Manolo) Gabbiadini and (Charlie) Austin to play direct, and also in a style that isn't normally their style.'

Saturday's victory follows four others in the Premier League that have been by considerably wider margins, and Mourinho, who was dismissed late on for appearing to clash with fourth official Mike Jones, said: 'It's better to win 5-0 than 1-0. We wanted to win also 5-0.

Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring United's winning goal down on the south coast

Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring United's winning goal down on the south coast

Lukaku scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season to hand United the three points

Lukaku scored his sixth Premier League goal of the season to hand United the three points

Man United fixtures 

Premier League unless stated

Wednesday CSKA Moscow (A)

Champions League group stage

Saturday Crystal Palace (H)

October 14 Liverpool (A)

October 18 Benfica (A)

Champions League group stage

October 21 Huddersfield Town (H)

October 24 Swansea City (A)

EFL Cup fourth round 

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'But it's not always possible. We had opportunities in the first half to score the second goal and then the game is different.

'Lukaku and (Ander) Herrera, too, and if we'd done that I would have brought on (Antony) Martial and (Jesse) Lingard and go for a different result. But credit to Southampton and to Pellegrino.'

Southampton have so far failed to score in five of Pellegrino's seven fixtures since his summer appointment as Claude Puel's successor.

It was a lack of goals that contributed so much to Puel's sacking, but Pellegrino, 45, said: 'In general we controlled the game against a team who are really difficult to control, even when they are defending because on the counter-attack they are really good.

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino was pleased with his team's control despite the loss

Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino was pleased with his team's control despite the loss

'They have pace and, in direct play, are really strong. But we did 90 per cent really well. Against this type of team you have to play really well, really close to 'excellent', to win.

'They realised we were playing well. The best teams in the world adapt their players to every single situation.'