Paul Scholes singles three Manchester United players out for criticism from Southampton display

Paul Pogba

Paul Scholes has criticised Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ashley Young for their performances in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side took a first-half lead through Daniel James, only to be pegged back when Jannik Vestergaard headed home in the 58th minute.

Southampton were later reduced to 10 men but United were unable to find a second goal, extending their winless run to three matches.

And Scholes believes three players in particular let the visiting team down at St Mary's.

"I'm disappointed. It looked like [it would be a draw] from the moment Juan Mata went off, actually. I was surprised because I thought if anybody was going to create something it's Juan Mata," the former United midfielder told Premier League Productions.

"But it wasn't the young players I was disappointed with, it was more the experienced players. When Matic came on he constantly gave the ball away, Ashley Young gave the ball away, and I don't know how many times Paul Pogba lost possession. These are the people that young players are looking up to, the examples you're looking at."

United have not won the Premier League title since Alex Ferguson's final season in management in 2012/13.

And Scholes, who won 18 major trophies at Old Trafford, believes Solskjaer is embarking upon a long-term project to restore the club to its former glories.

"I think you almost have to write United off for the next two years - this team - until Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has cleared everything he wants out, has four or five transfer windows," he added.

"United are going to be behind Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham. I think this is United at the minute. You have to be patient with the young players but the experienced players have to step up.

"We've seen over and over again how many mistakes experienced players are making. It's difficult for young players to come into a team like that."

United will attempt to return to winning ways when they take on Leicester next weekend.

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Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).

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