The first-half goals by Marcus Rashford and Matthias de Ligt put off the next Erik ten Hag problem for at least a week.

A better Southampton team played better than Manchester United in the first 30 minutes and missed a penalty, which let United off the hook.

It would have been interesting to see how United dealt with that kind of loss.

But Ten Hag’s team won easily enough in the end, and United didn’t lose three straight Premier League games for the first time since 2015, which would have been bad for him.

After striker Cameron Archer let them down at both ends, the Saints never got back on track after going down two goals at halftime.

The new player, who cost £15 million, hit the penalty kick way too close to United goalie Andre Onana on the first attempt, after Diogo Dalot had brought down teen winger Tyler Dibling.

After a few minutes, De Ligt scored with a header to put United ahead. Then, Archer failed to close down Rashford, who scored with a beautiful curling shot off the far post.

The Saints’ terrible luck ended when captain Jack Stephens got a straight red card for a cruel lunge on United substitute Alejandro Garnacho. Garnacho scored the third goal from Dalot’s cross in extra time.

A game that had been going well for the home team had a bad ending.

6Marcus Rashford ended his goal drought to get Man Utd back to winning waysCredit: Getty

6Matthis de Ligt opened the scoringCredit: Rex

The young striker’s spotkick was far too close to Onana who saved to his right and had plenty of time to stand up and save Archer’s headed follow-up.

Punishment was not long coming. Ramsdale saved a deflected shot by Zirkzee but his defence was sleeping from the resulting corner.

It was played short to Fernandes and De Ligt headed the fine cross out of reach of Ramsdale’s right arm.

A minutes later, Southampton were guilty of the same kind of failure.

Ramsdale made a good save from Rashford after another United break. This time the corner was overhit, but in the second pahse poor Archer failed to close down Rashford quick enough and his well-placed shot went in off the far post.

United started the second half on the front foot. Full back Noussair Mazraoui hit the outside of the post and Rashford had a shot blocked by Jan Bednarek.

6Andre Onana denied Cameron Archer from the penalty spot early onCredit: Rex

6Jack Stephens was sent off in the second half for a cynical foul on GarnachoCredit: Getty

Aaron Ramsdale saw three goals edge past him despite being at full stretchCredit: Reuters

Dibling, who is 18 years old, was one of four home players making their first Premier League start for the club. He skinned Dalot in the seventh minute and made Onana make a save.

In the 17th minute, Kyle Walker-Peters made De Ligt look like he had never played before, but he couldn’t find the right pass from the back post. At the other end, United broke through, and Bruno Fernandes missed the target with a shot.

It looked like Southampton was the better team.

Dalot’s pain got worse when Mateus Fernandes cut inside him and fired a cross-shot that De Ligt blocked.

The United full back then fouled Dibling, and Yuki Sugawara gave the ball away. Lesley Ugochukwu headed it over the bar with her free head.

That was the last time Dalot seemed to be lucky. Dibling beat him again and knocked him out in the box.

Diaz has a good track record from the penalty spot, but the Saints forward gave the ball to Archer.

Southampton did not look like a team who believed they could find a way back into the game.

United, and Amad Diallo in particular, sensed their fragility and only some last-ditch defending stopped the visitors extending their lead.

Then it was Ramsdale’s turn as he leapt athletically to push away a long-range shot by Rashford, whose confidence had risen visibly.

At that point, just after the hour, Martin made four substitutions. The decision to include Dibling in the players taken off was not popular with the home crowd.

Not much changed, or not enough, anyway.

Southampton did not create a single opening and their frustration told in the final 10 minutes.