Romelu Lukaku continued his fine goalscoring form for Manchester United to give them a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Lukaku scored his eighth goal in eight games for United after 20 minutes, converting a rebound after his initial header was saved by Fraser Forster.
Saints piled on the pressure in the second half, going close through Oriol Romeu on two occasions, and Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands in the final minute of stoppage-time for venturing onto the pitch, but United held on for a vital three points.
The result means United stay second on goal difference behind Manchester City, while Saints are down to 11th.
New Saints owner Gao Jisheng was in the stands for the first time since buying an 80 per cent stake in the club in August, and witnessed a first half lacking in chances.
United took the lead midway through the half through Lukaku, who struck home on the rebound from four yards after his initial header from Ashley Young’s fine cross was saved by Forster.
Marcus Rashford hit a 25-yard free-kick inches wide later in the half, but Saints came out fighting in the second period, with Romeu sliding the ball wide from six yards under pressure from the impressive Phil Jones.
Forster saved with his feet from Lukaku’s low effort during one of United’s rare second-half attacks, before Marouane Fellaini cleared off the line from Romeu’s header.
Ander Herrera then blazed over for United while Romeu slid the ball just wide from an angle late on, and United defended well in stoppage time to earn the win.
Mourinho was sent off by referee Craig Pawson late in stoppage time for venturing onto the field of play, but the Portuguese boss left quietly, shaking hands with all Saints’ staff before heading down the tunnel.
