Robin van Persie's hat-trick helped Manchester United stage an incredible late comeback at Southampton and ensure Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,000th league game at the helm would end in victory.Rickie Lambert headed the hosts in front after 16 minutes, although van Persie levelled seven minutes later with a fine strike.

Nathaniel Clyne's inopportune slip cost Saints but the home side enjoyed their own dollop of good fortune 10 minutes into the second half as Patrice Evra fell, allowing Morgan Schneiderlin to head home.

Saints would have been pegged back once again, though, had it not have been for goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who saved a cheeky penalty attempt by van Persie.
The Netherlands international looked set to get his first taste of the famous Ferguson hairdryer only to provide a late double salvo inside the final three minutes that turned the game on its head and saw him rack up his 100th Premier League goal.

Heading into the game, much of the talk was about Ferguson's decision to play Anders Lindegaard instead of regular number one goalkeeper David de Gea.
Rio Ferdinand was also a notable inclusion as he made his first appearance of the season, partnering Nemanja Vidic in defence for the first time since a 2-1 defeat to Basel last December.

The occasion seemed to get the better of the hosts in the opening exchanges and in the sixth minute Van Persie fired a volley just wide.The attempt awoke Southampton from their slumber and they were soon pushing forward, with Adam Lallana shooting wide after meeting a clever low corner from Danny Fox.

Schneiderlin blazed over from long-range as the hosts continued to push for a goal that came after just 16 minutes. Saints were getting a lot of joy down the right flank and made the most of it as Jason Puncheon sent a hanging cross to the back post, which Rafael failed to deal with and Lambert headed home.

However, like so often against United, the goal only seemed to spur Ferguson's side into life. Shinji Kagawa was first to show the visitor's intent as he struck a speculative 20-yard effort that Davis could only push wide.

Southampton rode out that storm but could not prevent United drawing level in the 23rd minute. Antonio Valencia's cross from the right looked like it would be intercepted by Clyne but the Saints right-back slipped and Van Persie took full advantage, controlling with aplomb before firing home.

The Netherlands international almost added a 99th Premier League goal shortly afterwards with a nonchalant 20-yard free-kick which curled just wide.
It was not all United, though, as Lambert fired just wide and then both James Ward-Prowse and Lallana came close with long-range efforts.

However, Ferguson's side were proving adept at exploiting the hosts' weaknesses.
One such example was Saints left-back Fox, who once again let Valencia cross from the right and, following another slip by Clyne, only the quick reactions of Davis prevented Evra netting at the back post.

Fox's torrid time continued in the second half as Valencia beat him to a pass from Davis, although the Ecuadorian's cross was not converted by Van Persie.
Kagawa came close moments before that as United started the second half just as they had ended the first.That domination counted for nothing, though, as another penalty-box slip resulted in a goal.

This time Evra was the unfortunate party as his fall allowed Schneiderlin to nod home a Lambert cross unopposed to the delight of the vast majority of those inside St Mary's.
It started a spell of dominance for the hosts as Puncheon forced Lindegaard into a smart save at the near post, before Rafael cleared under pressure from Lambert and Lallana had an effort blocked. Only Ferdinand prevented Ward-Prowse slotting home a Lambert cross, before Paul

Scholes and Nani came on as Ferguson looked to turn the screw on the hosts - and it almost had an immediate effect. After Van Persie saw an effort saved by Davis, the Saints goalkeeper sent a terrible miskick straight to substitute Nani on the left.The ball was worked into the box and Jos Hooiveld conceded a penalty for a sliding challenge on the former Arsenal striker. Van Persie took the resulting penalty but his chip was saved by Davis, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Debutant Emmanuel Mayuka was among three changes made by manager Nigel Adkins as he looked to close out the game under immense United pressure.
Javier Hernandez headed across the face of goal in the dying minutes, before he was then denied by a late Clyne tackle.

However, Saints could not stop United grabbing a later equaliser as Ferdinand's header came back off the post and Van Persie directed home three minutes from time.
Things got worse for the hosts in stoppage time as Van Persie nodded home Nani's cross to ensure the three points would go back to Lancashire.

 

Sir Alex Ferguson's brave decision to drop Wayne Rooney from his starting line-up paid off as new boys Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa scored in Manchester United's come-from-behind victory over Fulham. Rooney paid the price for a below-par performance in the defeat at Everton on Monday.

And whilst it is viewed as a reminder from Ferguson that standards have to be higher, the respective performances of Van Persie and Kagawa were such that Rooney cannot be guaranteed a recall at Southampton next week.

Not that he is certain to be fit anyhow, after sustaining a nasty gash in stoppage time after being trodden on by Hugo Rodallega - an incident which left United to play out the game with 10 men.

Before then a week of frenzied transfer activity is due, with Rooney's name doubtless being mentioned, in addition to Nani, who did not even merit a place on the bench.

Ferguson is more concerned about points, which were collected as the first-half response of Van Persie, Kagawa and Rafael to Damien Duff's second-minute effort proved enough despite a Nemanja Vidic own goal.

Rumours swept Old Trafford that Rooney had been axed long before official confirmation was received an hour before kick-off.

It is not the first time the England striker has suffered such a fate.

On New Year's Eve last season, Ferguson omitted the 26-year-old for disciplinary reasons against Blackburn - a decision that proved very costly as the Red Devils suffered a home defeat against a team that went on to get relegated.

Yet there was never any suggestion Rooney would be left out for the long term.

However, as he made his way to the home dressing room after witnessing a powerful first-half display from the hosts, in which Ferguson's two big summer signings both opened their United accounts, Rooney must have had a worry or two.

For in addition to their goals, Van Persie and Kagawa in particular caught the eye with how easily they fitted into the system.

Kagawa excelled in the hole behind the main striker.

His movement, speed and passing kept Fulham on the back foot.

And this, shrewd judges from Japan insist, is his best position.

So to where in that, would Rooney fit?

It gave a different view to Ferguson's programme notes, in which he said that anyone who had "fallen out of love'' with the club he would "invariably help them on their way out''.

That is not to say such a fate awaits Rooney.

However, it is worth noting Jaap Stam featured in United's first game of the 2001-02 season, against Fulham of all teams, and was promptly shown the door.

Not that Ferguson's brave move had a particularly impressive start as Bryan Ruiz rolled a free-kick into Duff's path which the Irishman turned home before guest of honour Usain Bolt had even taken his seat.

Coming so soon after that loss at Everton, it was a major test of character for United which they came through with flying colours.

Van Persie levelled with the clinical efficiency you would expect of a Golden Boot winner.

Meeting Patrice Evra's left-wing cross perfectly, the Dutchman flashed a shot wide of Mark Schwarzer before turning to receive the acclaim of his team-mates.

From that point on it was a case of when, rather than if, the hosts would gain the initiative.

As Kagawa prompted and cajoled, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia both went close.

But when Van Persie's corner was half-cleared to Tom Cleverley, Schwarzer could only turn the midfielder's shot into the path of Kagawa, who - profiting from Sascha Riether's failure to get out of the six-yard box quickly - swept home from close range.

Restored to the starting line-up following his Olympic campaign with Brazil, Rafael provided additional defensive security.

He also had a goal correctly ruled out for offside before nodding home Young's chip to the far post just before the break.

Yet, for all United's attacking endeavours, there remain serious flaws at the back amid a massive injury list.

Once again pressed into service as an emergency centre-half, Michael Carrick came far too close to turning the ball into his own net for comfort.

And when United conceded a second, it was almost laughable as David de Gea came to punch Matthew Briggs' cross, got nowhere near it and the ball eventually bounced off Vidic and rolled in.

De Gea redeemed himself with two brilliant saves to deny the excellent Mousa Dembele as Rooney was introduced for Kagawa.

And then, on Fulham's last attack, De Gea denied Ruiz, who had been set up by Dembele.