HERE'S a statistic worth chewing over with your mates tonight - in their two games with Southampton this season, Manchester United have mustered a total of 14 shots on target, and scored with nine of them.

Clinical finishing makes championship-winning teams, and this morning it is Sir Alex Ferguson's side who sit ominously at the top of the Premiership pile for the first time this season - while Saints are left to lick their wounds.

"Manchester United have been so clinical against us in the two games," admitted captain, Jason Dodd. "They didn't seem to have too many chances, but they put them away.

"We played really well in the first half and were disappointed to come in 2-1 down. United had two chances and scored them.

"We competed with the best side in the Premiership and were unlucky to go in at half-time down by a goal.

"But that's the way United play. They sucked up all the pressure and killed us off with two goals."

The afternoon had begun so well for Saints. Two minutes and 45 seconds into the game, and the ball was in the back of the United net.

Dodd managed to put over a peach over a right-wing cross, James Beattie timed his jump above Laurent Blanc perfectly to head past Fabien Barthez, his 12th of the season. One-nil to Saints, and could United become the latest scalp on Strachan's trophy wall?

Five minutes later, and Ruud van Nistelrooy put on the after-burners to blaze past Paul Williams and the netted the equaliser with an angled shot - goalkeeper Paul Jones will have been disappointed he didn't have the near post fully covered.

But that didn't put Saints out of their stride.

They started playing with a swagger and a belligerence which has grown in recent matches. Once again the movement was excellent, the passing was on the button. This was audacious and exciting fare.

Fabrice Fernandes, who came into the team on the morning of the game after Matthew Oakley was forced to pull out of the side, provided plenty of width and a string of crosses from the left. Chris Marsden tucked in with Anders Svensson, and the midfield, complete with Paul Telfer, more than matched United.

But then disaster struck after 23 minutes. Fernandes swung in a cross, which Beattie rose to challenge with Barthez and Gary Neville. Beattie landed awkwardly after falling on Neville and he yelled out in pain.

Barthez and Neville urgently summoned the physio. It looked serious as a leg brace was put on. Beattie was stretchered off, saluting the crowd who chanted his name.

As one door closes, so another opens, and enter into the fray Augustin Delgado after just 90 minutes of reserve team action.

It was nearly a fairytale start for the Ecuadorian who crashed his 32nd minute header against the post from Svensson's cross.

Saints were giving it a good crack. Delgado tripped his way through the United defence after 40 minutes, squared the ball to Marian Pahars whose effort clipped the crossbar.

Fernandes and Pahars also went close.

Then right on the stroke of half-time, Fernandes brought down Paul Scholes 30 yards out and well within David Beckham range. The England captain stepped back, sized up the target and drew his shot across the five-man wall low to Jones' right.

It was big bodyblow to Saints. It was also Beckham's first United goal for two months and he punched the air in delight.

"Beckham's goal just before half-time knocked the stuffing out of Southampton a bit," said Sir Alex. "We played much better in the second half."

However his opposite number, Gordon Strachan, still believed there was all to play for. He said: "At half-time, I thought we were going to win the game

"When we went to Chelsea the other week we were in a similar situation. I thought we could take something from the game."

Strachan was right, there was all to play for. Jones saved well an early Beckham free-kick, and an Ole Gunnar Soslkjaer header cannoned off the crossbar.

At the other end, Pahars had a clever chip saved from under his crossbar by Barthez and Delgado headed over a Fernandes cross.

Saints chased and harried. Strachan boldly went for it, throwing on Brett Ormerod for Fernandes after 62 minutes. But within a minute, the game was dead.

Van Nistelrooy muscled his way through the middle, slid the ball to Solskjaer in acres of space and he scored off the far post.

"When the third goal went in, the game was dead," admitted Strachan. While Dodd added: "After the third goal they started to get on top, and we were chasing shadows in the end."

Jones was twice called on to pull off terrific saves from Roy Keane. Then Delgado so nearly got on the scoresheet late on - a 77th minute scissor kick edged just past the post, and four minutes later his point-blank header was denied by a brilliant Barthez save.

"I'm proud of my team," admitted Strachan. "They made chances and played good football. We gave them problems, and on a luckier day we would have done a lot better."