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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC’s microscope.

Despite seeing the home side go down to ten-men, Manchester United could only register a 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s last Saturday.

Snapshot

The Red Devils began the game the brighter of the two sides, and took a deserved lead when Daniel James continued his blistering start to the season with a sumptuous curling finish. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were in full control in the first-half, and restricted the Saints to no real chances of note.

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The second-half was a completely different affair however, as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men cranked up the pressure. Jannik Vestergaard’s towering header to equalise had been coming, and United were really pushed on to the back foot. Cue the 68th minute and Solskjaer’s truly bizarre decision to take off the creative Juan Mata for the defensively-minded Nemanja Matic.

Off the bench

Having finally dropped Jesse Lingard after the England international’s wretched run of form, Mata duly rewarded his manager’s faith by orchestrating things from the number ten position. In United’s impressive first-half performance, the Spaniard stitched the play together for the Red Devils, and it was no surprise to see him end the game with a fine 87.1% pass accuracy. The 31-year-old also played three key passes – the second-highest of any United player, despite coming off early.

Instead of looking to wrestle control of the game in the second period by trying to get back on the front-foot, Solskjaer essentially panicked and took off his playmaker for a specialist holding midfielder. The Norwegian was made to rue his cowardly substitution by seeing Kevin Danso ridiculously get himself sent-off and hand United a man advantage. One man who would have thrived in the extra space and room to manoeuvre? Mata, of course.

Instead, United spent the 17 minutes Southampton were down to ten-men just chucking aimless crosses (22) into the box and with no real purpose or creativity. The Red Devils were crying out for someone like Mata to pick up the ball just outside the box and pick out runners with his vision and technique. This was undoubtedly a game United should have won, but Solskjaer’s decision to play it ultra-safe by subbing on Matic cost the side a real chance of clinching a much-needed victory.

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