Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits Manchester United did not deserve to beat Southampton after top four hopes hit setback


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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted his team did not deserve to beat Southampton on Monday night after conceding a 96th minute equaliser at Old Trafford.

United had been 2-1 up after goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in response to Stuart Armstrong's early opener for the visitors, before Michael Obafemi headed home in the final stages.

Instead of moving into third place in the Premier League, United stay fifth and face a real fight to qualify for the Champions League with a top-four finish.

"You think you have three points in the bag but we probably didn't deserve three points today," Solskjaer said.

"Southampton are a good team, they run, and run and chase. We never got into our rhythm today. We played some fantastic football at times. The two goals we scored were very, very good.

"It was the worst time to concede a goal but it happens in football. We have won so many games in that way. It is all part of the learning for this team."

United played the same starting team for the fifth straight league game, the first time they have done so since 1993, but Solskjaer did not feel his side had suffered from fatigue.

"I don't think tiredness was the case. It was just one of those days we did not take our chances and they took theirs," he said.

"David de Gea had one really good save but apart from that we had the bigger chances but you are not going to be given three points and Southampton are a very good side."

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl was delighted with the way his vastly improved 12th placed team approached the match.

"We developed our game with the ball extremely (well) in the last few weeks. We are becoming more brave. We are taking more risks. If you take more risks things can happen," he said.

"We wanted to be brave, we have nothing to lose and we can play free. You can feel the guys really enjoy (it) at the moment."

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