MANCHESTER UNITED 5 SOUTHAMPTON 0
Teddy Sheringham was the hero with a hat-trick of the highest order, while England colleague Andy Cole completed the rout with a brace.
Sir Alex Ferguson resumed the Cole - Sheringham partnership up front dropping Dwight Yorke to the substitutes bench, and the England duo repaid the manager's faith in them by tearing The Saints apart with a devastating performance.
It was Cole who gave United the lead after just nine minutes with a strike that resembled Matt Le Tissier's effort at Old Trafford last season. On that occasion, Massimo Taibi boobed by letting the ball slip through his legs, this time, it was Paul Jones who replicated the Italian's fumbling's by letting Cole's 20-yard effort go under him.
The error clearly had an effect on the Welsh international as he endured a torrid first half. More than once the former Wolves and Stockport keeper dropped crosses, and he was lucky not to have been punished further by Ferguson's men.
On the stroke of half time, Sheringham bagged his first goal to double The Champions advantage. Paul Scholes, prompting and probing all afternoon, rolled the ball into the path of the former Spurs striker, and he deftly chipped the ball over the Southampton keeper.
It was a goal of pure quality from a player oozing confidence.
United could have had more despite seemingly playing well within themselves. Southampton had their chances too, none more so than when Draper found himself in sight of goal but blazed horribly high.
Hassan Kachloul also went close when he spotted Barthez off his line, but his chip was not up to the standard of Sheringham as it sailed over the United crossbar.
The second half was all one-way traffic and had it been a boxing contest, the referee would no doubt have stopped it on the hour.
By then, The Red Devils were 4-0 up and the match ball belonged to Sheringham.
His first came when Paul Scholes, so often criticised for his over-exuberant tackling, dispossessed Matthew Oakley with ease. He fed Beckham, occupying his customary position on the right, and the England ace picked out Sheringham from a cluster of players in red to sweep the ball into the top corner.
The hat trick was completed when Ryan Giggs, who tormenting The Saints defence all afternoon, won possession wide on the left. He cut infield and found Cole lurking on the edge of the Southampton box. Whether he miscontrolled it or deliberately knocked the ball into his strike partner's path is irrelevant, but Sheringham was on hand to calmly roll the ball into the bottom corner for United's fourth.
United were clearly in rampant mood, keen to erase the memories of their midweek horror show and looked capable of adding to their lead at every opportunity. Giggs rattled The Saints bar with a thunderous right-footed attempt, and Beckham saw his free kick clip the top of Jones' crossbar.
But United didn't have to wait long for the fifth as it duly arrived just past the hour mark. It was a goal straight from the training ground as Beckham's corner was flicked on by Scholes on the front post and finished off by Cole at the back. Simple stuff, but very, very effective.
Glenn Hoddle, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on Friday, must have been delighted when Ferguson decided to take off Sheringham and Cole. Deservedly, they received a rousing reception.
Southampton barely broke into United territory in the second period, but when they did, James Beattie could not beat Barthez when one-on-one with the Frenchman.
Yorke had two opportunities to add to United's tally, but on each occasion Jones denied him with a breathtaking stop.
The one thing, which must have pleased Ferguson, was the way in which his side defended. It is undeniable that the defence is a far better unit without the floundering failings of Mikael Silvestre. Wes Brown looked classy, while Gary Neville, in his favoured central role hardly put a foot wrong.
Sheringham was undoubtedly the hero and earned special praise from a delighted Ferguson." He' s in incredible form at the moment," the Scotsman said."It's his first hat-trick for the club and I'm delighted for him."
