Man United cruise to a much-needed 3-0 win over Southampton as Matthijs de Ligt, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho strike at St Mary's... but there were still scares along the way, writes CHRIS WHEELER

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Cameron Archer stepped up to take the first penalty of his professional career. Behind him, Ben Brereton-Diaz stood on the edge of the area perhaps wondering why he wasn’t standing over the spot instead after converting all seven of his previous attempts.

Archer aimed to Andre Onana’s right in the 33rd minute and the Manchester United goalkeeper read it perfectly, diving to keep out the young Southampton striker’s attempt before comfortably saving his follow-up effort as well.

And there it was, the turning point of this encounter as it took a new course towards a much-needed win for United manager Erik ten Hag and a fourth straight defeat for Saints.

Within eight minutes, United had cleared their heads to take a two-goal lead and never looked like letting it slip after that.

‘That’s on me and the decision we made,’ said Saints boss Russell Martin. ‘We had a chat about it and Cam’s practised a lot over the last two weeks. He’s done brilliantly and had the confidence to take one. Ben was happy with that as well, but I don’t think he would be happy now.

Marcus Rashford's (right) first goal for Manchester United in 189 days helped crown a strong win on Saturday afternoon

Rashford was joined in the goals by new team-mate Matthijs de Ligt, marking the first time the former Ajax captain has scored for the Red Devils

Alejandro Garnacho's extra-time goal capped a charmed afternoon on the south coast 

‘It took the energy out of the game and then United had a moment which completely deflated everyone.’

Up to that point, Ten Hag’s side had largely been under the cosh in a game they really needed to win after losing two of their first three games. United hadn’t lost three of their first four since 1986 when Ron Atkinson was sacked to make way for Alex Ferguson.

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So the pressure on Ten Hag felt real to ensure the early-season problems didn’t explode into a full-blown crisis on the South Coast.

In the end, this was a good day for the Dutchman. He backed Matthijs de Ligt after a difficult international break and United’s new £42.8million signing came up with his first goal for the club. He kept faith with Marcus Rashford who scored his first goal for six months to put United two ahead.

The bold decision to start Christian Eriksen in midfield and leave both Casemiro and new signing Manuel Ugarte on the bench until late in the game also paid off. And he was rewarded with another exciting display from Amad Diallo after choosing the Ivorian over Alejandro Garnacho, who came off the bench to draw a red card for Saints skipper Jack Stephens and score the third.

But it didn’t always look that way and St Mary’s sensed an upset was on the cards when teenage winger Tyler Dibling began tormenting Diogo Dalot on what was Dibling’s first league start and Dalot’s weaker side down the United left. The youngster had already left his marker trailing to force a flying save from Onana when he drew a clumsy challenge and a clear penalty from Dalot.

Onana saved from Archer after a long VAR check to see if the challenge was in the box and United made the most of their reprieve.

De Ligt (left) managed to turn his header past Aaron Ramsdale (right) and into the net

Ramsdale was also powerless to stop Rashford's curling effort creeping in off the post 

Garnacho fired the ball into the roof of the net to wrap up the win in injury time - but the Saints were already thoroughly beaten

Garnacho celebrated his goal by sitting on the advertising board and crossing his arms

Within two minutes, Aaron Ramsdale turned Joshua Zirkzee’s low effort around the post and the visitors had a corner. Eriksen played it short to Bruno Fernandes who swung a cross into the box for De Ligt to score with a downward header inside the post.

‘If you get three points from three games it's not enough, so there was some pressure,’ said De Ligt. ‘Big credit to Andre Onana who changed the game for us.’

Six minutes after that, United were two up. Ramsdale conceded another corner by keeping out Rashford’s effort and again Eriksen took it.

Play was switched to the left where Diallo fed Rashford and he curled a shot around Archer and inside Ramsdale’s left-hand post with the keeper partially unsighted by De Ligt.

It ended Rashford’s barren run and followed claims going into the game that he feels bullied by the pundits.

‘We don’t pay attention to what the outside world is saying but there has been too much negativity towards him,’ said Ten Hag.

‘It is so important for him to get on the scoring list. Then you are building momentum, you are building belief and then it will come into more goals.’

United should have had more of them. Zirkzee, in particular, had a number of chances but failed to get enough on Eriksen’s clever pass in the first half and then saw a point-blank effort blocked in the second.

But they had to wait until deep into stoppage-time for the third goal. Casemiro, on as an auxiliary centre-back after Ugarte replaced Eriksen, slid an excellent pass through to Dalot who pulled the ball back for Garnacho to send it flying into the roof of the net.

The home side won a penalty when Diogo Dalot brought down Tyler Dibling in the area

Southampton's Cameron Archer saw his spot-kick saved by United stopper Andre Onana 

Jack Stephens received a straight red card for a high flying challenge on Alejandro Garnacho 

Stephens (right) seemed unhappy with the decision but he could have no complaints 

By then, Saints were down to 10 men after Stephens’ ugly touchline challenge caught Garnacho on the right knee.

Martin felt that fourth official Gavin Ward made the final decision rather than referee Stuart Atwell. ‘That’s the only thing that annoyed me,’ he said.