Brace from new boy Martial sees United home

[caption id="attachment_101365" align="alignright" width="300"] BOY WONDER: Anthony Martial, right, of Manchester United, and Matt Targett of Southampton in action yesterday. PICTURE: GETTY IMAGES[/caption]

TEENAGE striker Anthony Martial, 19, further endeared himself to Manchester United’s supporters with a nerveless brace as his side came from behind to win 3-2 at Southampton yesterday.

Scorer of a memorable solo goal in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Liverpool, Martial struck either side of half-time at St Mary’s after Graziano Pelle had given Southampton a 13th-minute lead.

Juan Mata added a third in the 68th minute and, despite Pelle scoring again, United held on for a victory that propelled Louis van Gaal’s side up to second place in the Premier League table, two points below leaders Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at home to West Ham United on Saturday.

Martial, who signed from Monaco on transfer deadline day for a reported initial fee of £36-million (R720-million), started up front alongside Wayne Rooney, back from a hamstring injury.

Southampton went ahead when Pelle followed in to score after Sadio Mane’s shot from James Ward-Prowse’s inviting right-wing cross had been parried by visiting goalkeeper David de Gea.

Pelle hit the post moments later, but Martial equalised in the 34th minute, throwing Virgil van Dijk off balance with a neat Cruyff turn inside the box and slipping a shot beneath Maarten Stekelenburg.

But Norwich equalised 13 minutes later courtesy of a deft lob by centre-back Russell Martin -- his third goal of the campaign. – AFP