Dutch destroyer Ruud van Nistelrooy put a hole in the good ship Southampton with a match-winning hat-trick at Old Trafford this afternoon.

The writing was on the wall after just 30 seconds when Saints' statuesque-like defence froze and van Nistelrooy buried the ball past Jones for United's first.

The £19million striker bagged his second after 34 minutes from close-range although there was a slight suspicion of handball and then completed his treble nine minutes into the second-half latching on to Paul Scholes' through ball.

Southampton's misery was deepened with further goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, four minutes from half-time to give an interval 3-0 lead and then second-half efforts from skipper Roy Keane and a left foot screamer from Phil Neville.

Incredibly Saints played well for the first 30 minutes and had Paul Telfer or James Beattie taking gilt-edged chances within that period then the complexion of the game could have been so different.

All Southampton had to show for their travels was a goal from Marian Pahars after 58 minutes to take his season's tally to ten.

*** FOR THE FULL MATCH-REPORT SEE THE 'PINK' - ON SALE AT NEWSAGENTS ACROSS THE SOUTH NOW. AND SEE THE DAILY ECHO AND THIS IS SOUTHAMPTON.CO.UK ON MONDAY ***