Debutant Austin stars, Saints shock United – Aguero double rescues vital point for Man City title push  

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MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Jan 23, (AFP): Debutant Charlie Austin’s late goal earned Southampton a 1-0 victory at Manchester United on Saturday that put the pressure back on beaten manager Louis van Gaal. Austin joined Southampton for £4 million ($5.7 million, 5.2 million euros) from Queens Park Rangers last week and made a spectacular debut as a substitute at Old Trafford. The striker, a prolifi c 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 fi fth defeat in 10 games, leaving them fi ve points off the top four, and despite a fi ve-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 football 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 have failed to score at home in seven matches this season and their chances of fi nishing in the top four to secure Champions League football 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 fi rst-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 fi rst 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 confi dence. Looking to score for the fi fth successive game for the fi rst time since 2010, Wayne Rooney tried his luck with a couple of efforts, but they never looked likely to bring him a goal.

Wideman Jesse Lingard, whose focus was more on defending than supporting United’s attacks, saw a tame shot go wide from a rare foray forward. West Ham United 2 Manchester City 2 Sergio Aguero scored twice to answer an Enner Valencia double for West Ham United and earn Manchester City a crucial point in their push to regain the Premier League title on Saturday. Not for the fi rst time City were thankful to their Argentine luminary who twice struck when the 2014 champions found themselves behind to the excellent home side in a vibrant contest.

The Hammers’ livewire Ecuadorian Valencia had put them ahead after 53 seconds with a sharp shot but City responded within eight minutes, Aguero equalising from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by Carl Jenkinson. West Ham, inspired by the dazzling creativity of Dimitri Payet, took a second-half lead through a mixture of opportunism from Valencia and shocking defending by Nicolas Otamendi who dozed as the Ecuadorian nipped in to latch on to a long throw. City, though, secured a point when, nine minutes from time, a loose ball bobbled to Aguero who coolly converted his 12th league goal of the season.

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