SOUTHAMPTON - 1 MANCHESTER  UNITED - 3:When Manchester United lost at home to West Ham five weeks ago and dropped to ninth, Alex Ferguson was unequivocal. "It's almost impossible for us to win the league now," the manager said. "It will take a miracle." The Scot presumably knew different deep down, but even he must be surprised by the speed with which his team have assumed their customary position at the top.

A seventh successive league victory since that 1-0 defeat lifted United to the Premiership summit for the first time this season and few would bet against them remaining there.

If the defence again looked unconvincing and their 2-1 half-time lead was undeserved, the penalty-box skills of Ruud van Nistelrooy, the driving force of Roy Keane and a revitalised David Beckham helped them prevail.

Van Nistelrooy scored for a seventh straight Premiership game to equal a record held by Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Mark Stein, though the Dutchman is alone in getting all his goals in open play.

A Beckham free-kick moments before the interval and an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer strike completed United's recovery after going 1-0 down inside three minutes.

"It's terrific to be top of the table," said Ferguson, whose team were 11 points adrift at one stage. "We were making too many mistakes but other teams have as well and that's given us half a chance."

Half a chance? The belief coursing through United - whose England players were being watched by Tord Grip, back at work after last week's heart scare - and the psychological blow this rise to first place has delivered to their rivals makes them favourites for a record fourth successive title.James

Beattie had given Southampton the lead and his early departure with a dislocated ankle which is likely to keep him out for at least two months is a blow to his club.

A relegation battle is unlikely on this and other recent displays, though, and manager Gordon Strachan could be pleased with Beattie's replacement, the debutant Agustin Delgado.

Of Beattie's injury, Strachan said: "It looks like he has dislocated it. It is still a big blow because he's been in great form.

Ferguson, inevitably, was purring about Van Nistelrooy, who also set up Solskjaer's goal. He called his No 10's form "remarkable" and the striker epitomises the clinical edge to United's game at the moment.

That ruthlessness, an unquenchable spirit and a knack of scoring at key moments have seen the champions through at a time when their back line remains vulnerable

Beckham's set-play in first-half stoppage time was crucial. Ferguson said it "knocked the stuffing out of Southampton"; Strachan called it a "body blow".

Shortly before, Southampton had hit the woodwork twice.

For much of the second half United's passing was impressive but they looked far from comfortable for long periods before the interval. The strength of Beattie and later Delgado, allied to Marian Pahars' speed, left them looking vulnerable.

Southampton moved the ball wide well, delivered dangerous crosses and exploited the lack of balance shown by United in midfield with Juan Sebastian Veron on the left. Delgado hit the post with a header and set up Pahars for a shot against the bar.

Against United such chances have to be taken, as Strachan also discovered in last month's 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford. "Someone told me that over the two games they had 10 shots on target and scored nine goals," he said. "That's phenomenal. I think Van Nistelrooy scored four out of four."

Only six minutes after Beattie had headed in Jason Dodd's right-wing cross, Van Nistelrooy's goal arrived. It was typical of the pace with which United turn defence into attack, Gary Neville's pass being knocked by Beckham to Van Nistelrooy, whose one-two with Scholes enabled him to accelerate past Paul Williams and score from a tight angle.

Beckham's free-kick, curled over the wall and into the bottom corner, gave United an advantage they scarcely deserved but were in no mood to waste. With Keane driving them from midfield and Beckham regaining his old form, they soon killed things off.

Southampton had started the second half brightly but Solskjaer finished sharply after Van Nistelrooy had shown quick feet and good awareness to set him up.

Fabien Barthez produced a great save to deny Delgado but it was irrelevant. United were back in their stride and another seven straight wins are feasible. Liverpool visit Old Trafford a week on Tuesday, but the other games take in Blackburn, Bolton, Sunderland, Charlton, Aston Villa and Derby.

Ferguson will feel United are back where they belong.

Guardian Service

SOUTHAMPTON: Jones, Dodd, Bridge, Lundekvam, Williams, Telfer, Fernandes (Ormerod 60), Svensson, Marsden, Beattie (Delgado 26), Pahars. Subs Not Used: Moss, Monk, PetrescuBooked: Marsden. Goals: Beattie 3.

MAN UTD: Barthez, Phil Neville (Irwin 46), Silvestre, Gary Neville, Blanc, Beckham, Veron, Keane, Scholes, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy (Giggs 85).Subs Not Used: Carroll, Chadwick, Stewart. Booked: Blanc. Goals: van Nistelrooy 9, Beckham 45, Solskjaer 63.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

P W D L F A Pts

Man Utd 22 13 3 6 54 32 42

Newcastle 22 13 3 6 42 29 42

Leeds 22 11 8 3 34 20 41

Arsenal 21 11 7 3 42 25 40

Liverpool 22 11 6 5 31 23 39

Chelsea 22 8 10 4 35 22 34

NEXT ON THE LIST: Saturday: Leicester v Newcastle; Liverpool v Southampton; Blackburn v Man United; Sunday: Leeds United v Arsenal; Chelsea v West Ham