SIR Alex Ferguson has turned Manchester United into such a consistent winning machine over the past 20 years that it’s always nice to watch them get beaten once in a while, especially when they get a very rare hammering.

While United have dominated the Premier League since its formation in 1992, Southampton spent most of their time just trying to stay in it, ultimately losing their battle in 2005. Over the years the Saints did make a habit of being something of a thorn in side of the top teams, particularly United.

Today in 1996 the Saints recorded one of their most impressive results ever when they trounced Fergies team 6-3 at The Dell.

This match came just seven months after Southampton had beaten United 3-1, a result Ferguson blamed on the infamous grey away strip.

This time there were no kit-related excuses as United lined up in their blue and white strip and in confident mood.

Graeme Souness had been brought in as manager at The Dell in the summer and had brought several important players to the club, notably Eyal Berkovic and Egil Ostenstad.

Berkovic netted after just six minutes to give the home side the lead, with Matt Le Tissier doubling the lead on 34 minutes. Beckham pulled one back for United on 41 minutes but Egil Ostenstad grabbed Saints’ third on the stroke of half time.

The second half carried on where the first left off. David May gave Fergie hope of a come back with a goal on 56 minutes but Berkovic and Ostenstad each added another. In the final minutes Ostenstad scored again to complete his hat-trick, although the mysterious dubious goals panel later decided it was an own goal by Gary Neville. Paul Scholes added United’s third in the final minute to cap an extraordinary game.

The game proved to be the highlight of the season for Saints under Souness, who had yet another season of struggle and survived only on the final day of the season before Souness resigned. He did find time before he left to give Ali Dia his famous run out at The Dell though.

Meanwhile Manchester United put the defeat behind them and went on to win the League for the second year in a row.

Have a look at Le Tissier’s lob over Peter Schmeichel for Saints’ second goal, and come back tomorrow for some player power from north of the border. Also on this day: this.

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