The winger scored his first hat-trick to make amends for another terrible collective display from Ruben Amorim's side
Where would Manchester United be without Amad Diallo? In the relegation zone, quite possibly.
The Red Devils were on their way to their most humiliating defeat yet as they trailed 1-0 at home to Premier League basement club Southampton after a Manuel Ugarte own goal in the first half. But Amad took matters into his own hands, equalising in the 82nd minute and completing a hat-trick within the final 10 minutes to give United a 3-1 win they barely deserved but which they badly needed, taking them 10 points clear of the drop zone.
Southampton turned up at Old Trafford bottom of the table with six points and having just taken two points from all their away games this season, the lowest amount of any team in the four top divisions in English football. The Saints also had the lowest points total after 20 games in Premier League history and in their last league outing they had been humiliated 5-0 by Brentford. But it did not take long for Ivan Juric's side to start playing as if they were Real Madrid.
Kamaldeen Sulemana bullied Leny Yoro while Tyler Dibling was also too hot to handle for a United side which looked nothing like the team that had held Liverpool to draw at Anfield and knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. The Saints scored from a corner, their first such goal all season but the latest demonstration that United cannot cope when defending from set pieces.
Amorim took swift action from the bench, hooking Kobbie Mainoo at half-time and Rasmus Hojlund and Manuel Ugarte early in the second half. But Antony, who had replaced Mainoo, made things even more embarrassing for the hosts by missing an absolute sitter. United fans were tearing their hair out, as was Amorim, but Amad kept believing and equalised almost on his own, cutting through down the right wing and then lashing inside the near post.
He struck what looked to be the winner in the 90th minute before making sure with another goal in added time to complete his first ever hat-trick.
GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford…
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Andre Onana (6/10):
Made an outstanding double save to thwart Dibling and Fernandes but needed a stronger arm to prevent the goal.
Leny Yoro (3/10):
Got repeatedly destroyed by Kamaldeen Sulemana as United really suffered without the security Harry Maguire gives them.
Matthijs de Ligt (5/10):
The best of a bad bunch in defence, making several important blocks.
Lisandro Martinez (4/10):
Struggled against Dibbling and was targeted from the corner leading to the goal due to his height, being out-jumped by Dibling. Forced into a couple of tactical fouls, getting booked for taking out Ugochukwu.
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Noussair Mazraoui (5/10):
Had some joy down his flank in United's best spell of the first half but couldn't keep it up.
Kobbie Mainoo (4/10):
Had one promising foray into the area only to bungle the pass. Otherwise he couldn't get a grip on the game. Hauled off at half-time.
Manuel Ugarte (4/10):
Cumbersome in possession and powerless to stop Southampton's quick advances. Taken off, looking furious, in the 53rd minute.
Amad Diallo (10/10):
The one player who kept believing, almost single-handedly turning a wreckage into a masterpiece.
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Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):
Got off to a bad start when he missed a glaring chance but at least he kept going and kept playing with positivity.
Rasmus Hojlund (4/10):
Put chance on a plate for Garnacho but that was his only positive contribution and he could not argue with being substituted early, even tough he did.
Bruno Fernandes (6/10):
Looked like he and Amad were carrying the team for large parts of the game.
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Antony (3/10):
Created a chance within moments of coming on but gets a dire rating for his dire miss.
Joshua Zirkzee (7/10):
Gave United an outlet and his passing created lots of attacking moves.
Toby Collyer (7/10):.
His energy made a big difference.
Christian Eriksen (N/A):
Threaded through the pass for the winner.
Harry Maguire (N/A):
A late addition and the performance showed he has to start all the time.
Ruben Amorim (7/10):
His proactive and ruthless substitutions saved the game.
