MAN UTD 2 - SAINTS 1

Entertaining because it was such a good match.

Encouraging because Saints proved they can live with the best.

Comical because of Ruud van Nistelrooy's manhandling of a pitch invading fan and Diego Forlan's inability to put a shirt on without the aid of United's backroom staff.

But heartbreaking because Saints deserved at least a rare point at Old Trafford - but came away with nothing.

Travelling to face Manchester United on the back of four straight victories, Saints played like a team high on confidence, a team who believed they could win, a team who had no fear of their world class opponents.

That's not to say that Saints matched United. Fergie's men have 11 world class players and Saints don't - but there's something about them.

Gordon Strachan has instilled a work ethic, a confidence, an attitude.

The players don't believe they're relegation fodder, they believe they're better than that - and after this performance it's hard to argue.

The only disappointment is that, despite playing so well, they came away with nothing. They need to make sure their top drawer performances in future yield points.

But you honestly don't expect to win at Old Trafford. You give it your best shot and see what happens.

Saints couldn't have given any more for their boss and Strachan said: "I have mixed emotions about the game. My team played very well, both as individuals and as a unit, but I'm disappointed with the score.

"I felt we did enough to get a draw and threatened them, which was good.

"My team had a good game and were brave but there's always disappointment when you don't get any points."

That summed it up. If you want to move on up then when you put in first rate displays, you need the results to go with it.

Strachan believes that's what his side needs to progress, admitting: "To take us up another level we have got to win at places like Old Trafford. That's what we need to do now.

"Not all the time but some of the time.

"I think the game sums it up - we had chances. We will never have world class players all over the pitch like they have so I've got to make my players as good as theirs. We do that through hard work and organisation."

But there's still plenty of talent, too. Fabrice Fernandes is a player exciting everybody who watches him.

He was the most dangerous player on the pitch on Saturday and scored another fantastic goal.

On 18 minutes he rolled the ball just in front of him on the right-hand corner of the penalty area and lashed a shot across Fabien Barthez and into the far corner.

Strachan raved: "Fabrice did very well. His technical ability was as good as anybody on the pitch."

Fernandes' goal was a Saints equaliser after they fallen behind three minutes earlier.

Paul Scholes, playing in a withdrawn role just behind lone striker van Nistelrooy, split the defence and Phil Neville was the unlikely scorer.

His shot took a wicked deflection and Antti Niemi was left helpless.

There were plenty more chances for United - Matt Oakley had to clear off the line, van Nistelrooy came close on several occasions, as did Juan Veron.

There were also scrambles in the Saints area and some great last-ditch tackles from the brilliant and blossoming centre-half pairing of Claus Lundekvam and Michael Svensson.

But Saints had opportunities as well. When Brett Ormerod got to the by-line and pulled back to James Beattie it seemed almost certain the big striker would make it five goals in three games, but he skied his shot over the bar.

Michael Svensson had a great opportunity when he drifted in unmarked to meet a Fernandes free-kick but slid his shot just wide from close range.

But a draw was a fair result.

Only it wasn't a draw.

With four minutes left, substitute Forlan rifled an unstoppable shot into the Saints net from outside the area and handed victory to United.

He celebrated by taking his shirt off but then couldn't get it back on. The referee actually allowed him to play on without it for a time but eventually, with the aid of THREE backroom staff, he was able to understand how it operates - well, it is complicated!

But Southampton's team were good all over the pitch, led by Chris Marsden and Jason Dodd's mammoth efforts, but in the end it wasn't quite enough.

But they're not far away.