Manchester United U21 1-0 Southampton U21: Ashley Fletcher goal takes Warren Joyce's side back to the top of the league
* Manchester United went into the match second in the U21 Premier League
* They knew they could go top with a win, overtaking Liverpool
* United started the better of the two teams and hit the crossbar early on
* Ashley Fletcher opened the scoring, with Phil Jones providing the assist
* Jones, Adnan Januzaj and Tyler Blackett all lined up for United Under 21s
* Despite Southampton pressure, United held on for the win in Leigh
Ashley Fletcher scored the only goal of the game as Manchester United Under 21s moved back to the top of the U21 Premier League with a 1-0 win against Southampton on Bank Holiday Monday.
Warren Joyce’s side went into the match needing to win to regain their place atop the league after Liverpool’s 2-1 victory against Leicester earlier in the day, and United did exactly what was asked of them.
Phil Jones, Adnan Januzaj and Tyler Blackett were recruited to strengthen the side, with the former continuing his return from an injury suffered in mid-April.
Phil Jones starting for Manchester United's Under 21s on Monday, and provided an assist for the only goal
Adnan Januzaj, pictured posing with fans during United's last U21 match, again lined up for the youth side
United started the better of the two sides, and almost took the lead inside three minutes when Fletcher rattled the crossbar from an Andreas Pereira cross.
Fletcher did manage to get on the scoresheet minutes later though, when he chested down a brilliant long ball from Jones to rifle past Will Britt in the Saints goal.
As Southampton struggled to get going, United continued to press but could not find a second goal.
They could have done with doubling their lead, too; Chelsea are breathing down their necks in third place with a game in hand, and a win will take them level on points with a superior goal difference at the top of the table.
In the second period at Leigh Sports Village, as Joyce’s men searched for another goal, it was the away side who came the closest to netting.
With 20
Quote:
MATCH FACTS
Manchester United: Amos; Love (El Fitouri 65), Jones (Willock 60), Blackett, Kellett; Thorpe, Grimshaw; Weir, A.Pereira, Januzaj; Fletcher
Subs not used: J.Pereira, Pearson, Williams
Goal: Fletcher 17
Booked: Weir 57
Southampton: Britt (Cropper 87), Mugabi, Debayo, Jones, Cook, McCarthy, Barnes (Sims 76), Gape, Gallagher, Hesketh (Seager 76), McQueen
Subs not used: Wood, Sinclair
Booked: Jones 65
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Seconds later, it was Jake Hesketh’s turn to rattle the woodwork, but again United were let off the hook when his shot came back off the bar.
Seemingly, it was not Southampton’s night. They are struggling in the lower echelons of the league and find themselves just four places off the bottom, albeit with games in hand.
The win for United takes their unbeaten run to seven matches, stretching back to February 2. They have won four and drawn three since a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham, and will run Chelsea close with just three games of the season remaining.
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