For a brief moment or two, as Bruno Fernandes headed for the corner flag to celebrate scoring the only goal of the game, Manchester United seemed one big happy family and it was easy to forget about the abominations of only a couple of weeks ago or the “Glazers out” chants that preceded kick-off.
Fernandes found the corner of the Southampton goal with a cunning volley and was soon on the receiving end of a hug from Cristiano Ronaldo, warming up on the sidelines, and Casemiro, who made his debut as a late substitute.
The club captain, Harry Maguire, again left on the bench, rose from the away dugout to applaud. Erik ten Hag punched the air in delight.
It was fraught and the Southampton substitute Sékou Mara ensured panic in six minutes of second-half stoppage time but United held on to earn successive Premier League victories and a first away win since February.