'We lost again in a horrible way': Saints' Hasenhüttl rues Old Trafford rout

The Southampton manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl, described his second 9-0 defeat as “hurting more, not less” than the previous one by Leicester in 2019.

Related: Depleted Southampton concede nine again at rampant Manchester United

Southampton were hammered at Old Trafford on a nightmare evening, ending with them being reduced to nine men after Alexandre Jankewitz’s sending off inside two minutes was compounded by Jan Bednarek’s second red card towards the close.

“We lost again in a horrible way,” said the manager, who pointed to his injury-depleted team. “The same story, one man down [early] and so 90 minutes can be long. The lads had no alternatives – no players on the bench, no alternatives to defend better. In the end, it’s a different situation to the first time [Leicester], as it has been a good season so far and we are in a position we haven’t been for a long time [mid-table].

“We know what we’ve to do better. It hurts more not less to have this result again. But the team is a different one now. Let’s see how the season ends.”

After Jankewitz, a teenager making his first Premier League start, was sent off, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Marcus Rashford, a Bednarek own goal and Edinson Cavani made it 4-0 at the break. Scott McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, two from Anthony Martial, and a Dan James strike completed the rout. Bednarek’s red card came after referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty for the defender’s foul on Martial. After consulting the pitchside monitor, as directed by VAR, the referee upheld the decision and sent him off, perhaps conscious that Arsenal’s David Luiz had received the same punishment for a similar infringement earlier in the evening. “It’s not important,” said Hasenhüttl.

Related: David Luiz and Bernd Leno sent off as Wolves hit back to beat Arsenal

Ole Gunnar Solskjær said: “The law needs to be looked at but the letter of the law says no attempt on the ball, it’s got to be red. I think everyone in football agrees he shouldn’t be sent off.”

Solskjær added the Premier League title race may yet come down to goal difference. The result drew United level with Manchester City on 44 points at the top and their 46 goals for is now the league’s highest tally.

“You have to take your chances in tight or open games, you never know what might be the deciding factor, we know – better than anyone – what goal difference can do to you because we have lost the league on goal difference,” said the United manager.