SOCCER/Southampton 0 Manchester Utd 3:THE TIE was swathed in layer upon layer of romance but, when all the wrapping was removed, there was just a rather scruffy match to behold. This game will get a fleeting mention when Southampton fans discuss their club's triumph over Manchester United in the 1976 FA Cup final but last night they would have been talking about it heatedly. A red card for their centre-forward Matt Paterson, when the visitors led by a single goal, ensured that the remainder of the match was academic.

Nine minutes from half-time the teenage attacker had made a shin-high challenge on Nemanja Vidic and, despite the disbelief at St Mary's, the dismissal administered by the referee, Mike Riley, was the conventional response in this era.

"He was just a bit over-enthusiastic," said the United manager, Alex Ferguson, "but it was a rash challenge. Didn't give [Riley] any option."

Jan Poortvliet, Ferguson's opposite number, was sure the official had not been even-handed.

Paterson, all the same, had been too combative, fouling the visitors' centre-half Jonny Evans soon after kick-off. Once the Scot had departed a defeat for his side was unavoidable, even if the penalty that provided the second goal was debatable.

United now meet Tottenham at Old Trafford. The visitors are managed by Harry Redknapp, who won there during Portsmouth's triumphant FA Cup run last season. "I hope he doesn't have the luck he had last year," said Ferguson, "because if he does, we'll have no chance."

While Paterson went to extremes, aggression had been essential for Southampton if they were to find any sort of role in the match. Gaucheness, after all, has placed them far down the Championship table. The visitors may have altered their side and allowed Cristiano Ronaldo the weekend off but superiority was certain.

Nonetheless, irritations abounded for Southampton. Danny Welbeck converted the opener after a John O'Shea header from Nani's corner had hit the crossbar in the 20th minute. However, it did seem he might have been offside when his centre-half nodded towards goal but the Southampton players made scant protest. They were aggrieved at the second goal, however, when a Nani free-kick was deemed to have been halted by the arm of David McGoldrick in the defensive wall. Nani himself slipped home the penalty. United's last strike, at least, was incontestable.

"I have to see the decisions myself, but I think it was not a penalty, not a red card and the first goal was offside," said Poortvliet. "The referee's assistant should see it because he is on the same line as the player. They told me (Paterson) went with two feet (for the sending-off). It was one foot and it was on the ball. It changed the game because you are always having to come back. I think the penalty was cheap."

Wayne Rooney burst through on the left and set up his fellow substitute Darron Gibson with a low cut-back. His team-mate notched his first goal for the club nonchalantly, flicking the ball up and lashing it past Kelvin Davis.

There was much to gall Poortvliet. He was convinced Welbeck had been offside at the opener and could not tolerate Paterson's red card. "It was just a normal tackle and he hit the ball."

Poortvliet had complained to Riley as the sides walked off at the interval. He was sure his men were suffering for their lack of renown. "There may not be one player in my team that he knows," argued Poortvliet. "You need neutral people to give decisions the same for both sides."

For United the tie was a mere exercise. It served a purpose in Ferguson's development programme, with the 19-year-old Welbeck finding the net in his first FA Cup appearance. For the visiting supporters there was a chance to devise chants to taunt the home crowd.

Dimitar Berbatov, if reputation was any guide, would have been classed as the performer least likely to exert himself. Maybe he was out to retain his enigmatic persona, though, because he kept observers off-balance by involving himself regularly in the action. Following his coolly directed winner against West Ham in the Premier League, he may be now be coming to prominence in the Old Trafford cast.

There was little for Southampton to salvage from the day. Davis was always liable to pull off a series of good saves, as he did, and the tireless running of team-mates such as Ryan Smith could have been anticipated. Poortvliet's limited line-up can at least devote all its energy to the Championship. Every drop of it will be badly needed.