SOUTHAMPTON REACTIONS
“We had a game plan and he (Strachan) said 'Go out and play
football how you have been taught' and we did it to good
effect. The lads are very fit and we had to take a bit out
of the game today because of the heat. We felt strong
towards the end and I think we had them under pressure in
the last 10 minutes.
football how you have been taught' and we did it to good
effect. The lads are very fit and we had to take a bit out
of the game today because of the heat. We felt strong
towards the end and I think we had them under pressure in
the last 10 minutes.
“It feels great to beat United but the most important thing
was to get our first win and to ensure that we remain
unbeaten this season. It is always nice to beat the
champions and we will take a 1-0 today.”
was to get our first win and to ensure that we remain
unbeaten this season. It is always nice to beat the
champions and we will take a 1-0 today.”
Strachan:
“I am feeling quite happy. I think we played well today. I
thought the two guys up front, not only are they great
target men but as first line of defence were fantastic. When
you work hard you get good luck and Beattie got good luck
today with a few minutes to play - but that is down to hard
work."
thought the two guys up front, not only are they great
target men but as first line of defence were fantastic. When
you work hard you get good luck and Beattie got good luck
today with a few minutes to play - but that is down to hard
work."
Phil Neville:
“The pitch was very dry, it slowed the ball down a lot. It
is very disappointing. It is not nice to lose a game but it
is a difficult place to come. Southampton battle hard and I
always felt we were in control of the game and it was going
to be us that went on to win it. We still have got to pass
it better and open up teams a lot more in the final third.
is very disappointing. It is not nice to lose a game but it
is a difficult place to come. Southampton battle hard and I
always felt we were in control of the game and it was going
to be us that went on to win it. We still have got to pass
it better and open up teams a lot more in the final third.
“We knew they never give in and the manager stressed to us
that even if we were in front in the game and winning they
would press us. They keep going right to the end and you
have to concentrate until the last minute, as was
highlighted today.”
Ferguson:
"There was nothing very inspirational out there. It was a
hot day for both sets of players and we did not come up with
very much. We had only one real attack in the first half and
that was from Ryan Giggs. Don't take away from Southampton
but maybe a better result would have been a draw.
"Of course we're disappointed. When somebody scores at that
time of the day it's very difficult to come back but we are
a team who have shown we can get over our disappointments.
The season is a long one and nobody ever won the title at
this time of the year.
"Chances at either end were very few and far between. Most
of our threats were outside the box really. We had a good
cross in the first half which Ryan flicked on and the
goalkeeper saved and we had a good shot in the second half.
Other than that it was one of those games - not
inspirational.
"If you lose a goal that late there's not much you can do.
You can't deny them their victory, they worked hard and
closed us down."
Fergie praised Tim Howard, despite some blaming him for the
goal:
"He had an excellent game, absolutely superb. He felt he had
a little push on the goal but I didn't see that. We're
delighted with his form. I think he may have got a push as
the ball came over from the corner. He's obviously not happy
about it but he's a big lad and he's somebody who can bounce
back from mistakes."
that even if we were in front in the game and winning they
would press us. They keep going right to the end and you
have to concentrate until the last minute, as was
highlighted today.”
Ferguson:
"There was nothing very inspirational out there. It was a
hot day for both sets of players and we did not come up with
very much. We had only one real attack in the first half and
that was from Ryan Giggs. Don't take away from Southampton
but maybe a better result would have been a draw.
"Of course we're disappointed. When somebody scores at that
time of the day it's very difficult to come back but we are
a team who have shown we can get over our disappointments.
The season is a long one and nobody ever won the title at
this time of the year.
"Chances at either end were very few and far between. Most
of our threats were outside the box really. We had a good
cross in the first half which Ryan flicked on and the
goalkeeper saved and we had a good shot in the second half.
Other than that it was one of those games - not
inspirational.
"If you lose a goal that late there's not much you can do.
You can't deny them their victory, they worked hard and
closed us down."
Fergie praised Tim Howard, despite some blaming him for the
goal:
"He had an excellent game, absolutely superb. He felt he had
a little push on the goal but I didn't see that. We're
delighted with his form. I think he may have got a push as
the ball came over from the corner. He's obviously not happy
about it but he's a big lad and he's somebody who can bounce
back from mistakes."