Ruthless stuff
Look, we get it: elite football is a ruthless business. Life at the top is tough; there can be no room for sympathy for your inferior opponents. All this considered, you wouldn’t be human if some part of you didn’t feel at least a *little bit* sorry for Southampton in the closing stages of their 9-0 mauling at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Having arrived to face Manchester United with an injury-hit squad, they’d seen Alex Jankewitz deservedly sent off for a nasty challenge in the early stages. After conceding six goals, they were unfortunate to have Jan Bednarek also shown another straight red as part of the penalty decision which allowed United to score their seventh of the night. Their remaining nine players let in another two goals as the game entered stoppage time, equalling a Premier League record for a heaviest defeat.
Scott McTominay, clearly, had little in the way of pity for the Saints, as one slightly hilarious moment after United’s final goal of the game showed. Dan James tucked home the ninth goal of the game in added-on time, instantly acknowledging the cushioned header from Bruno Fernandes which dropped the ball into his feet.
McTominay opted not to join the tepid celebrations and, as was pointed out by many amused viewers, appeared to order James to pick the ball out of the net and return it to the centre-circle quickly so they might have a chance of adding a tenth.
We’d love to show you the footage, but don’t hold the licence for it and would get into bother with whoever does if we did. Nevertheless, he can be seen in the still below, standing close to the penalty spot and pointing for the ball to be retrieved.
McTominay had been on the receiving end of Jankewitz’s dangerous early challenge, escaping with just scratch marks on the inside of his thigh. He went on to play the full game, scoring United’s sixth from distance.
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