With the final whistle came a ripple of relief around Old Trafford. Manchester United, the Premier League leaders, had extended their advantage over Manchester City to seven points, but only after a second-half performance against Southampton that was as passive as any the home fans have seen in recent seasons. The visitors, with new manager Mauricio Pochettino having joined in controversial fashion, dominated after halftime and can feel aggrieved to have lost by a single goal.

Wayne Rooney was the match-winner here, his two first-half strikes coming after Southampton had taken the lead early through Jay Rodriguez. The opening goal, after only two minutes, was both a moment of horror for David De Gea and a presage of things to come for Michael Carrick. The latter's poor control of a pass that reared up off the capricious surface then led him to lob the ball dangerously short back to his goalkeeper. De Gea, forlornly exposed, came off his line to deal with the pass and, unable to use his hands, attempted a flailing tackle. Rodriguez calmly sidestepped him and put Southampton into the lead, to the howls of thousands of traveling fans and, one suspects, quite a few writers of tabloid headlines.

Fortunately for De Gea, who was far less culpable than the surprisingly errant Carrick, redemption came soon via Rooney. Just six minutes later, Shinji Kagawa -- who also struck a post -- clipped a wonderfully weighted half-volley to the onrushing England forward, and as the ball curved obligingly into his stride he hit it across Artur Boruc into the bottom left-hand corner. The home side were ascendant and deserved their lead on 27 minutes, which arrived after a superb piece of athleticism from Patrice Evra. From the right, Robin van Persie floated a free kick beyond the far post, where Evra, sprinting on a shallow angle toward the byline, launched himself horizontal -- more Henrik Larsson than left back -- and directed a diving header back across the 6-yard box. Rooney tapped the volley home, and Manchester United had come from behind yet again.

Perhaps remarkably, though, that was the final time they would score in the match. Again, the worrying story was to be found in midfield. Anderson, who has recently returned from injury, had an unusually poor game, his distribution indifferent for much for the match. Meanwhile, alongside him, Carrick was curiously ponderous in possession. Southampton, particularly in the second half, stepped forward and pressed him at every opportunity, not allowing Carrick to provide the outlet that he so often does. With Manchester United's attacks thus foundering at the source, at times they looked as timid as if they were defending a narrow lead in the Bernabeu. The introduction of Adam Lallana for Southampton was central to the home side's discomfort. He combined very well with Rickie Lambert and Rodriguez, and so concerned was Sir Alex Ferguson that he eventually moved Phil Jones into midfield to plug the holes exposed by the fervour of the away team.

United then enjoyed a briefly fruitful period of attack, Boruc palming away a point-blank Van Persie header before the Dutchman had another header ruled out for a marginal offside call. Later, Rooney went clear from a Van Persie pass but his heavy second touch allowed Boruc to recover. This lack of ruthlessness, fleetingly reminiscent of Manchester United's 4-4 draw against Everton last season, almost cost them dear. The saviours were David De Gea, who swatted a 20-yard free kick to safety that Nemanja Vidic had conceded, and then Vidic himself, who blocked a goal-bound shot just before the end of normal time. United escaped with the win, somehow taking six points from Southampton who had arguably bested them in both encounters. On such fragile foundations are league championships made.

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