United have often struggled in reserve level games at Southampton in recent years and, sadly, this proved to be the case again, with the home side securing victory with two goals in six second half minutes. Overall, it has to be said that the Reds' opponents were full value for their win.
Although Weir missed the game's first real chance when he hit his shot over the bar, Southampton grew into the game as the first half progressed. Henderson was forced to make a fine save to deny Hesketh just before the half hour mark with United looking tidy at the back and largely restricting the Saints to speculative efforts from outside the box.
The best chance of the half fell to United just before half-time when Southampton keeper Lewis fumbled a corner and the ball fell invitingly at the feet of Weir, who somehow managed to steer his close range shot wide of the target.
United were made to pay for that miss when the home side quickly took control in the second half. Tuanzebe did well to get in the way of a shot from Olomola and turn it wide but it proved only a temporary reprieve. First Sims' shot benefited from a heavy deflection off Riley on its way into the net and then central defender Stephens rose in the area to head home from a corner to establish a two goal lead.
Indeed, it might have got worse soon after when Olomola, with only Henderson to beat, sliced his shot over the bar. From there United threw bodies forward and, although Redmond saw an effort cleared off the line, they laboured to create a further clear-cut opening against a well-organised Southampton defence.
It's early days but defeat here, following last week's less than convincing performance against Leicester, raises questions about United's ability to challenge for this inaugural Premier League 2 title. The relative youthfulness of the Reds' current squad, along with the lack of a recognised forward, are issues that Warren Joyce will surely be pondering prior to Sunday's game against Chelsea.
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