Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl lamented a torrid evening for his side as they fell to a 9-0 hammering at Manchester United less than 18 months after suffering defeat by the same scoreline to Leicester City. The Saints have now lost four straight Premier League games and were ruthlessly taken to shreds by the Red Devils on a sobering Tuesday evening at Old Trafford.
Southampton were down to 10 men within two minutes as Alexandre Jankewitz saw red for a horror challenge on Scott McTominay on his first ever top-flight start.
The hosts then scored four goals before half time through Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford, Jan Bednarek (OG) and Edinson Cavani.
United rattled in another two through substitute Anthony Martial and McTominay before Bednarek was also sent off for allegedly fouling Martial.
Bruno Fernandes scored from the penalty spot before Martial netted his second for a brace and Daniel James scored the final goal deep into stoppage time.
United matched a 26-year club record having beaten Ipswich by the same scoreline in March 1995, with eight different goalscorers on this occasion including Bednarek.
They are only the third different Premier League team to manage nine in one match and remarkably, the second team in as many seasons against Southampton to do so.
The south coast club have bounced back admirably since their 9-0 loss to Leicester in October 2019 at St Mary’s but this was another heavy blow to absorb.
And a deflated Hasenhuttl told BBC Sport post-match: “One man down after three minutes against this opponent, congrats to Man United and they worked us off and did not stop scoring.
“The second red card is most disappointing, we don’t have anymore players. Jan Bednarek does not kill him but I do not want to speak about the referee.
“Last week he was our VAR and made his mark in the game. It was a stupid foul from the young lad [Jankewitz] and kills everything.
“When you come here with two goalkeepers on the bench, I wanted to give a chance for a few young lads to show up.
“When I have seen what is going on it is better to take them out because 9-0 on your debut is not a good score to have.
“We tried in the second half to keep a clean sheet as much as we could but at nine men it was too easy for them to score.
“What can I say? It is horrible but we stood up after the first 9-0 and we have to do that again.
“I said at the time we do not need it again but when we have it again you have to take it.”
He added to BT Sport, visibly devastated: “It was tough from when you lose a player after three minutes against such a team. Eleven against eleven it’s tough to compete here.
“With one man down and with all the players we’re missing at the moment it’s even more tough. To concede again nine goals, we have your story now and we have the blame but I can take it.
“I don’t know what I can say to him [Jankewitz]. To defend the guys on the pitch they were helpless after he was sent off immediately. Then it’s gone very quick.
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“You know the 90 minutes can be very long but afterwards nobody will speak about the one player sent off or the second player sent off. The result is there and we have to live with the result again.
“We have to [bounce back]. We’ve played so far a very good season. Nobody expected that such a result would come today. There were no signs of it.
“It doesn’t reflect what we did this season so far. It’s hard to explain what’s going on now in your mind. We have to live with this.”
United striker Marcus Rashford said to BT Sport: “It’s always good to score lots of goals and we’re just happy. It’s three points that we’ve needed.
“We’ve dropped some points in the last few days so we needed to get back to winning ways and today was a brilliant opportunity to do that.
“I think the first half really set the tone for us. From there, when we come in at half-time it’S just about keeping the right mentality and a positive attitude really and going to finish the game and score more goals.”
On the first red card he said: “It’s a challenge where I think it’s quite unlucky. I don’t think he’s meant it in a nasty way but he’s just a little bit late there and Scotty’s felt it.
“I think it is a red card but unfortunate for the young player.”
