Southampton 2-3 Manchester United: Match report, pictures and video highlights

ROBIN VAN PERSIE avoided the hairdryer treatment from Alex Ferguson by bagging his first hat-trick in a Manchester United shirt.

The Dutchman needed just 23 minutes to add to his United tally and cancel out Rickie Lambert's opener.

But he was left red-faced after Morgan Schneiderlin had restored the lead for Nigel Adkins' newcomers.

Van Persie dusted himself down following an untidy challenge from Jos Hooiveld before seeing his attempt from the resulting spot-kick saved by Kelvin Davis.

The fact he missed was bad enough, but Fergie was left spitting feathers due to the manner in which the Arsenal legend tried and failed to mimic Andrea Pirlo's cheeky penalty style.

Van Persie eased the chances of a verbal blast at the final whistle by equalising three minutes from time after Rio Ferdinand thumped a header against the post.

And he broke Southampton hearts with his 100th Premier League goal deep into injury-time.

HEADS I WIN ... Rickie Lambert nods Southampton into the lead

UP AND RUNNING ... Rickie Lambert races away after scoring

DEADLY ... Robin van Persie equalises

MAIN MAN ... RVP celebrates with Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck

Southampton: Kelvin Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox, Puncheon (Mayuka 74), Steven Davis, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, Lallana (Rodriguez 78), Lambert (Do Prado 75). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Lee, Richardson, Seaborne. Booked: Hooiveld.

Goals: Lambert 16, Schneiderlin 55.

Man Utd: Lindegaard, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Cleverley (Scholes 61), Carrick, Welbeck (Hernandez 71), Van Persie, Kagawa (Nani 61). Subs not used: De Gea, Evans, Giggs, Powell.

Goals: Van Persie 23, 87, 90.

Att: 31,609

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS AVAILABLE FROM MONDAY