Trollheart's Match of the Day Thread

[Trollheart]

Teams: Manchester United v Southampton
Regions: Manchester v Hampshire
Managers: Ruben Amorim v Ivan Juric
Targets: Man United want to get back into the top half of the table, which they've barely seen all season. Tired talking of how Southampton are, you know by now.
Expectation: Come on, it's Southampton! United should easily be able to beat them, especially at home.
Ground: Old Trafford
Respective current positions (Before match): 13 & 20

A hat trick for Diallo sorted this one, with the only Southampton goal coming from one of Man United's new players. Not that the Saints didn't give it a shot, they in fact being the first to go on the attack, the strike shooting wide of the far post. Dibling then had two bites of the cherry, but a fine double save by Onana kept him from opening the scoring for his team, a far cry from his performance against Swansea, when he scored two in the FA Cup! But this is the Premier League, and, though they may be a shadow of their former selves, this is still a mostly resurgent Man United at Old Trafford. The only three goals Southampton were likely to be seeing in this match would be against them. If they were lucky.

Nevertheless, United's shaky defence let in the corner taken by Southampton, Ugate helping it on its way into his own net. Not a good way to start your career at Manchester United! Southampton in dreamland. The second half seemed to be going to plan too, the Saints on the attack from the off, Sulemana just missing doubling their lead by a whisker, then United had their first real attempt on goal, Anthony unable to convert. But then came twelve minutes of Manchester United magic, as Diallo turned the game entirely around on his own, scoring a hat trick that gave his team what must have been seen as a very unlikely win. Just shows what one man can do, but then, never good to be a one-man team. United aren't complaining: they're up to 12th while Southampton's dreams of racking up their first victory in months vanished into the harsh cold Manchester winter wind.

Result: Manchester United 3 - 1 Southampton
Scorer(s): Diallo (3) (MNU); Ugate (og) (SOU)
Penalties: None
VAR decision(s), if any: None
Red Cards: None
Controversies: None
Respective current positions (After match): 15 & 20
Respective final positions: 12 & 20
Effects: A spectacular win for United, which lifts them one place; Southampton, as you were.

[Trollheart]

A great day for Newcastle, who rise to fourth and are now being seen as a serious title challenge, while Forest stopped Liverpool from widening the gap and helped their own title aspirations. Arsenal took down Spurs to ensure their push for the top continues apace, while Man City could only draw against Brentford, and may have lost at the death, their title chances long gone now as they languish in 6th, 12 points between them and Liverpool. Chelsea are another whose title challenge is fading away as they are pushed to 5th, 10 points now behind the leaders, while West Ham, with a new manager, are up to 12th after a fine victory against Fulham.

Ipswich remain in the relegation zone after being hammered by Brighton, though as usual they show signs of promise, if only they could convert those chances. Manchester United looked a cert to be losing their match against bottom club Southampton, but three goals by one man in twelve minutes gave them a victory the bookies would not have taken bets on. Crystal Palace's victory lifts them well clear of the relegation zone now, while Wolves fall back into it after losing to Newcastle. The return of the king to Everton did not produce the coronation hoped for, and they remain where they were. Southampton once again prop up the table.

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Title contenders (current top in green)

Liverpool
Arsenal (4 points behind)
Nottingham Forest (6 points behind)
Newcastle (9 points behind)

Expected to be relegated
(current bottom in red)

Southampton
Leicester (8 points ahead)
Ipswich (10 points ahead)
Wolves (10 points ahead)
Everton (11 points ahead)