A Ché Adams effort that was deflected in by Fred gave Saints a lead going into half-time and, although Mason Greenwood levelled for the visitors shortly after the break, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side remained good value for the draw and could well have even won the match late on.

It was not all well for united who played so slow in the Midfield failing to part strong Saints. saints started the stronger side and then weathered a United storm of pressure before again taking control and they deservedly opened the scoring on the 30th minute.

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Hasenhüttl kept faith with the same team that he had selected on the opening day of the season, at Everton, although there was no place among the subs for Stuart Armstrong, who missed out with a minor calf problem.

Saints started the game well, James Ward-Prowse testing David de Gea within a minute, trying to catch the United keeper out at his near post with a low free-kick from distance, but he was able to scramble across and punch the bouncing ball behind.

The hosts survived a major scare on seven minutes, though, going perilously close to conceding.

Bruno Fernandes whipped in a free-kick from the right, which only just eluded the head of a diving Victor Lindelöf before being looped onto the bar by Harry Maguire’s outstretched boot at close range. The rebound fell kindly to Anthony Martial six yards out, but Mohammed Salisu was well positioned to clear his header off the line.

It was a moment that kick-started something of a nervy spell for Saints, as United pressed, but they were able to ride it out without suffering damage.

Hasenhüttl’s men then began to grow back into the game, and they worked a decent opening shortly before the half-hour mark, as Moussa Djenepo tricked his way into the left side of the area and laid the ball back to Adam Armstrong, who sent a curling effort over from 20 yards.

Two minutes later, the breakthrough arrived. Saiints win lasted ten minutes before Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side came out firing after the break and equalized just 10 minutes later after Paul Pogba and Fernandes linked in the box to tee up Mason Greenwood whose shot squirmed under Alex McCarthy.

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Paul Pogba played a pass into the area, which found Fernandes, who spun and attempted to lay the ball back into the path of Pogba’s run. The delivery was a little off, but it nonetheless ended up falling into the path of Greenwood, who struck a low, left-footed shot from about 12 yards that went through the legs of McCarthy and into the back of the net.

Greenwood also missed a fine opportunity soon after, heading over from a good position after Fred’s clipped cross from 25 yards on the inside-right had picked him out.

Both sides then had their chance to win, with David De Gea making a big save to deny Adam Armstrong, but United were unable to snatch a late winner which would have sent the travelling support into delirium.