CHARLIE AUSTIN scored late on his debut as Southampton beat Manchester United 1-0 Saturday to inflict the first English Premier League defeat of 2016 on Louis van Gaal’s erratic team.

    Austin joined Southampton for 4 million pounds (US$5.7 million) from Queens Park Rangers last week and made a spectacular debut as a substitute at Old Trafford.

    The striker, a prolific scorer for QPR, Burnley and Swindon Town, had been on the pitch for only seven minutes when he powered home a header from James Ward-Prowse’s 87th-minute free kick.

    His goal handed United a fifth defeat in 10 games, leaving them five points off the top four, and despite a five-match unbeaten run before this, Van Gaal’s side have won just three of their last 13 games.

    That record, and the bland style of soccer that has contributed to it, is doing nothing for Van Gaal’s job security and while the Dutchman has been unhappy with speculation about his position, it will only intensify after this latest dismal defeat.

    United has failed to score at home in seven matches this season and their chances of finishing in the top four to secure Champions League next season are diminishing fast.

    Having gone 17 years without an away win over United, Southampton won at Old Trafford for the second season in a row.

    United’s first-half showing was as bad as anything they have served up in a dreary campaign, with the home supporters showing their displeasure before the break.

    It took just 35 minutes for the first boos and chants of “Attack!” to be heard after another aimless ball from the back dropped harmlessly into the arms of Fraser Forster.

    The Southampton goalkeeper had been a virtual spectator as United’s promising start faded away, along with their seemingly fragile confidence.

    Wayne Rooney tried his luck with a couple of efforts, but they never looked likely to bring him a goal. (SD-Agencies)