Manchester United 0 Southampton 0: Lacklustre United booed off after third successive draw

The full-time whistle is greeted with boos around Old Trafford. Mourinho heads straight to the referee (obviously, he has to blame someone other than himself...) and that is United's third successive draw. There was a strange lack of urgency on display for much of the match and Southampton could have taken all three points were it not for a couple of brilliant De Gea saves.

Manchester United 0 Southampton 0

Finally, with time almost done, United are throwing everything they have and Martial stands over a corner... in it comes, but it is headed clear. That could be that.

Martial drives, Mata drives - but they cannot find a way through.

Lingard looks to have a sight of goal but Hoedt does well to put his body in the way of his effort. Three minutes of stoppage time to be played. And another piece of great Southampton defending sees Stephens hook a bouncing ball clear with Lingard about to bounce inside the six-yard box.

Not good enough in this second half.

A mysterious lack of urgency in the United ranks as this game nears its conclusion. Martial's cross is headed clear.

"Attack, attack, attack," is the chant from the home fans. But Southampton are holding the ball high up the pitch.

Replays look as though Matic's shot was in fact creeping inside the post. If only Pogba had not got involved...

Redmond is the final Southampton sub, coming on for Boufal.

Another Southampton change sees Tadic make way for Lemina.

DISALLOWED GOAL!!! Boufal concedes a soft free-kick for a tug on Young on the right side of the Southampton penalty. Young will take it... his delivery whacks into Matic on the edge of the six-yard box and his bobbling effort looks to be going wide until Pogba turns it in. But the Frenchman was clearly in an offside position.

Yellow card number four for Southampton as Ward-Prowse's boot strays too high.

Long - who has run himself into the ground today - goes off in place of Gabbiadini.

United are becoming less and less threatening as this match wears on. The pace has seemingly disappeared despite the personnel on the pitch. I wonder what Mourinho's excuse is going to be if they don't win this match.

Another opening for Southampton as Long finds some space in line with the United defence and lays off to Tadic, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area goes wide with De Gea rooted to the spot.

Time is running out for United here and you have to give credit to Southampton. They have proven difficult to break down, while ensuring they haven't got bogged down inside their own half. Can someone conjure a moment of magic to break the deadlock?

Yellow card for Matic for a pull back on Tadic.

A rare chance for Southampton to get forward sees Boufal pick the ball up in a decent position and curl a nice cross onto Tadic's head. His effort is weak and loopy though.

United are starting to launch repeated waves of attack now through Lingard, Rashford and Martial running at the Southampton defence. This would be a fine point for Pellegrino's side if they can hold on.

This United front three has pace in abundance now and Martial immediately drives forward to draw a foul from Romeu and earn a free-kick 25 yards out to the left of goal. It looks as though Young will take it... but the Southampton wall does its job, heading the ball wide of McCarthy's near post.

A spot of trouble for De Gea as the United keeper receives an almighty whack from Jones, punching a dangerous Southampton free-kick clear. He's soon up on his feet though.

Mkhitaryan's game then reaches its conclusion as he is hauled off for Martial.

Pogba's cross-field pings are a thing of pure joy.

Mkhitaryan's right foot has been 9/10 today. His left foot has been 1/10. And that is generous. Yet another attempted cross with his weaker peg sails straight out of play and is greeted with a loud chorus of moans from the United fans around Old Trafford.

And another yellow card, this time for Lingard who flies in studs up on Stephens.

A third Southampton player goes into the book with Boufal penalised for a foul on Young.

A few exasperated jeers and cheers have started to emerge from United fans eager to see their team attack with greater vigour. Mkhitaryan drives inside onto his right foot and tries to find the far corner with a curled effort from range, but it causes no trouble for McCarthy who holds on with ease.

Another peach of a cross-field ball from Pogba leads to a United corner, which is taken by Mkhitaryan. Cross, defensive head, second corner. Cross, McCarthy catch.

A decent period of pressure sees Southampton earn a couple of corners, but suddenly Mata spots Rashford in acres of space high up the pitch and unleashes the striker with a fine long ball. McQueen then recovers to slide in and steal the ball back, with Southampton then launching a counter-attack of their own. In a flash it is worked to Long bang in front of goal and he is convinced he has scored, only for De Gea to pull off a brilliant save with his foot and somehow divert it over the crossbar. Very, very close and Long cannot quite believe it.

Here's an extract from Sam Wallace's story on Lukaku:

The Belgian was hurt when he jumped to challenge for a header with the centre-back Wesley Hoedt and got the Dutch defender’s head in the back of his own. The United striker was not knocked out but having reached for his head, he lay down on the turf and did not move.

The first bulletin from United was that the player was being assessed by the staff at the stadium and an ambulance was placed on stand-by if required. His neck was supported by the United medical staff and he was lifted on to a stretcher before being carried off with an oxygen mask on his face. Hoedt rubbed his head in discomfort after the collision but carried on playing.

Yet another United cross evades the men in the middle as Lingard's delivery from the right fails to find Rashford in the middle. An encouraging start from the home side.

Let the second half of this game begin.

Nothing to break the deadlock so far. United, who lost Lukaku to injury very early on, might have been awarded a penalty but missed a few good chances to take the lead. Southampton, for their part, have given a decent account of themselves.

Manchester United 0 Southampton 0

Lingard finds Rashford in behind the Southampton defence, but Yoshida recovers to nick the ball and end what should be the final attack of the half.

Class from Pogba to bring the ball out of United's third when surrounded by Southampton players. He does seem so effortless at times. Southampton are in no hurry whenever there is a stoppage in play.

Mkhitaryan again over-hits his cross towards Young in the middle of the penalty area, but the ball works its way to Matic who shoots into McCarthy's hands from 20 yards.

Six minutes of stoppage time to be played and United continue to advance.

Right on cue, Mkhi makes a mockery of that criticism, getting on the end of a sublime cross-field ball from Pogba, cutting back onto his right foot and picking out Lingard unmarked in front of goal. He should score, but nods it wide. That cross-field ball from Pogba really was something. Meanwhile, Hoedt has been booked for kicking the ball away at a free-kick.

Matic to Rashford to Mkhitaryan, but again his delivery is poor with Lingard charging into the six-yard box in front of goal. The Armenian has not impressed so far on his return to the starting XI.

Another Lukaku update: it sounds as though he will not be required to attend hospital, which is good news.

United are applying plenty of pressure now, but Mkhitaryan's cross bounces all the way into McCarthy's hands from the left. No one there to get on the end of it.

Chris Foy has just given his verdict on that penalty decision and he says it was correct. Not deliberate and thus no penalty. Let's end it there and move on.

A Lukaku update from our man Sam Wallace:

Let's have a look at that penalty incident. Lingard controlled the ball wonderfully and the ball undoubtedly hit Yoshida's hand, which was raised above his head. The referee thought it was ball to hand rather than the other way round. A tough one, but I think he should have pointed to the penalty spot.

United are seeing more of the ball now, attempting to work their way patiently towards goal. Eventually it is knocked towards Lingard as he bursts into the Southampton 18-yard box and United are convinced they should have a penalty for handball but the referee shakes his head.

Superb from Young. Twice he cuts back to try and work some space down the right, succeeding at the second attempt and delivering a wonderful cross in the direction of Rashford. The forward manages to get his head on the end of it, but McCarthy did enough to put him off and the effort glances wide.

Now close to a United goal. Rashford gets on the end of a long ball upfield and into the Southampton penalty area, but he cannot work space to find a clear sight of goal. The ball squirms away only as far as the fast arriving Mata, who drills low from outside the area and McCarthy holds on.

Pellegrino can find no fault inhis side's endeavour so far in this match, with Southampton more than holding their own. Long, in particular, is all over the park - in a good way.

Hojbjerg is the first man to go into the book for a foul on Shaw.

Back down the other end and Hoedt comes close, rising highest from a Southampton corner but nodding his effort wide.

So poor from Mkhitaryan. United counter attack so quickly from the Southampton corner and Rashford squares wide for Mkhi to charge into space down the left. Lingard and Rashford are both in the box waiting for the delivery but Mkhi looks caught in two minds between shooting and crossing, instead looping the ball out for a goal kick.

Serious gas from Long. That was rapid. A long hoof upfield sees Lindelof left one-on-one with Long as the United defender tries to shield the ball. Long is far too quick though and nips his way in front, before winning a free-kick just on the left side of the United penalty area.

Ward-Prowse tries his luck from a tight angle and De Gea beats it away for a corner.

Smart play from Shaw down the left gives the full-back some space to fizz a dangerous cross that goes all the way across goal before it is put out for a United corner that comes to nothing.

Back to action after a break of at least five minutes. I'll bring any news on Lukaku as and when we get it.

There is going to be a lot of stoppage time at the end of this half. Lukaku has been strapped in and very carefully placed on a stretcher. If he is indeed concussed, he won't be playing in the next match against Everton on Monday. Applause rings round Old Trafford as he departs with an oxygen mask attached to his face. Not a pleasant sight at all.

Rashford comes on in his place.

A long stoppage here as Lukaku goes down after a clash of heads with Hoedt. The medical team were straight on to attend to him and it looks like a bad one I'm afraid. Hopefully nothing too serious and just a precaution but he is going to be leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

Close to a Southampton opener! The visitors attack with numbers as Boufal bursts through the United defence and cuts back from the goal line all the way to Ward-Prowse, whose shot is heading for the bottom corner, where De Gea palms away at full stretch. The kind of brilliant save that has become so normal for the Spaniard.

Now it is Southampton's turn to venture forward, but Shaw expertly uses his body to move Tadic aside and ensure a United goal kick. If he was a gnarly veteran he would have been praised for "using all his experience". As a 22-year-old that cliche serves no purpose, so let's just describe it as good football.

That was extremely classy from Pogba and Mata.

A cracking ping from Pogba sees the ball spread from left to right where Mata traps it with aplomb. The Spaniard delivers to Lukaku at the near post and the big man should probably do better, but nods over the bar. A great chance for an early goal.

Southampton kick off in their blue-striped away kit.

Here come the players. Let's go.

Just time for one more snippet of news that may have slipped your attention. This piece on Southampton's move for Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Sessegnon was from our man Jeremy Wilson a couple of days ago:

Southampton are interested in recruiting Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge on loan until the end of the season and are also ready to make an audacious bid for Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon.

After selling Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool for £75 million on Wednesday, Southampton want to reinvest quickly and add quality to their squad, with the attacking positions and centre-back their two priorities.

A list of targets are being considered or actively worked upon and, with manager Mauricio Pellegrino desperate to add pace, power and goals to his team, one of the most intriguing names is Liverpool’s Sturridge.

One longer-term interest is Fulham 17-year-old Sessegnon, who signed his first professional contract last year and is wanted by most of the biggest clubs in England.

Strictly Come Dancing finalists Aljaz Skorjanec and Gemma Atkinson are in the building. I like to imagine that this is their default expression, regardless of whether a camera is on them or not.

Should any of you have missed it yesterday, it is well worth reading Jamie Carragher's latest Telegraph column - "Jose Mourinho sounds like a broken record - if Pep Guardiola was Man Utd manager they would win the title". Here's an extract:

There is a flaw in Jose Mourinho’s argument that the difference between Manchester United and Manchester City is money. If Pep Guardiola was in charge of the United squad I believe they would win the title. 

Rewind to the start of this season and assess the head-to-head qualities of the United and City squads. Player-for-player, which would you argue was superior?

Was Ederson considered better than David De Gea? Were City’s centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones preferable to Eric Bailly and Phil Jones? Did United fans want Fernandinho or Nemanja Matic?

United broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba, and then made Romelu Lukaku the most expensive Premier League player of last summer. Which English clubs made bigger statements of intent?

Asked whether those starting today have been rewarded for their contribution off the bench, the Man Utd manager had this to say:

No, Lingard is playing almost every match recently and the last he was on the bench because of rotation but he is playing really well. Not because of the last match.

Mkhitaryan a bit yes, because he came on and did well and had good attitude and good dynamic and enthusiasm.

He gave something to the team in the second half so with Martial still injured and Rashford playing for 90 minutes and being as the team are punished with fixtures and less time to recover it’s normal I have to play other players when I have solutions in that position.

So what do we make of those team? Shaw starts successive league games for the first time since September 2016, while Mkhitaryan makes his first league start since the start of November.

Rojo and Rashford are on the bench, while there is no place in the squad for Ibrahimovic.

For Southampton, Forster is dropped for the first time in the Premier League this campaign with McCarthy making his league debut.

Man Utd: De Gea, Young, Lindelof, Jones, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku

Southampton:McCarthy, Stephens, Hoedt, Yoshida, McQueen, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Tadic, Long, Boufal

Good afternoon and welcome to the Premier League late kick-off where Manchester United host newly cash-rich but football-poor Southampton.

For the home side, this week has mainly concerned Jose Mourinho moaning. Like every other week.

Here is what he had to say in his most recent press conference about Manchester City's spectacular season so far compared to his own side:

Pep Guardiola arrived, he has the goalkeeper of England (Joe Hart). He doesn't like him, he buys the goalkeeper of Barcelona (Claudio Bravo). He doesn't like him. He buys another one (Ederson) now, he likes.

He has (Pablo) Zabaleta and (Aleksandar) Kolarov, two very good players, but more than 30, he wants to replace, he doesn't do it with two. He does it with three. One from Tottenham (Kyle Walker), one from Monaco (Benjamin Mendy) and one from Real Madrid (Danilo).

"Can we buy six or seven players at the same time? Can we invest £600 to 700million? No. So, it's difficult. I think in the last years the market is going in such a direction that you belong to one of these clubs where there is no limit and you just buy what you want, no Financial Fair Play, there is nothing, you do what you want, or it's hard.

"I don't want to take any credit from what they (City) are doing, their players, staff and the club overall, not at all, but it's difficult (to compete with them). Is it possible? Yes. Potentially we have as a club (those finances), but we are not that profile of club where there are no limits and the only thing that matters is to get the best.

I'm genuinely intrigued to know the answer to this question: Are United fans buying into his whole siege mentality or as they as tired as the rest of the footballing world with his constant moaning?

Feel free to let me know your answer on Twitter @benbloomsport if you want. It does seem like everyone has grown weary of Mourinho's ramblings, but does that apply to United fans as well? Please enlighten me.