He’s Scho good! Fergie and RVP hail veteran midfielder

LANDMARK ... Alex Ferguson celebrates victory in his 1,000th league game in charge of United

ROBIN VAN PERSIE might have scored a hat-trick but Paul Scholes was hailed as United’s Millennium man.

Both new-boy Van Persie and boss Alex Ferguson saluted the long-serving midfielder for making the manager’s 1,000th League game a winning landmark.

Warhorse Scholes, 37, has been there for almost half of them, clocking up his 486th game for the club when he came on as a 60th-minute sub for Tom Cleverley.

And the Ginger Prince is still pure gold for a grateful Fergie — doing what he did when he first emerged from the Old Trafford youth team almost 18 years ago.

Ferguson said: “We didn’t start playing until Paul Scholes came on the pitch.

“His range of passing, consistency of passing and presence turned the game for us.

“In the first half we were more or less in control but lost the goal and we were on the back foot.

“Van Persie scored a fantastic equaliser and you think: ‘Let’s get down to business and get the game done in the second half.’

“But credit to Southampton they kept putting the ball in the box.

“Their plan was to put in back-post crosses and they scored two goals from that. That was disappointing for us but, to be fair, Southampton are good at it.

“I thought we were well out of it until Scholes came on.”

Van Persie scored twice after Scholes came on and in doing so, the Dutch striker dug his team and himself out of a hole after he had missed a 67th-minute penalty after changing his mind on the run up.

RVP said: “Of course everyone worked hard, I have to say a big thankyou to Paul Scholes. When he came on everything started ticking.

“Every single pass he hit was the right one. With him you are always on your toes because anything can happen with his qualities. For me, he is the man of the match.”

One-club man Scholes came out of retirement to help his team last season and is still a vital component when the chips are down.

Ferguson also admits he needs a more consistent defence after his side twice went behind.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic played together at the back for the first time since December because of injuries and Fergie said: “When you play two centre-backs regularly you get consistent results.

“That has always been the case – from Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister or Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen.

“Last season our best form was when Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand played regularly. This season we had four centre-backs out for the first game of the season and Michael Carrick played back there and Antonio Valencia at right-back.

“With the best will in the world that is never going to be the perfect solution. Rio was back today and it took him time to get into the game. Vidic is getting there and if those two keep fit, it will give us a good chance.”

Southampton have now lost all three games despite putting up a credible fight against the two Manchester sides.

Saints’ substitutions — taking off Jason Puncheon, Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana — were also pivotal in the tide turning against them.

Boss Nigel Adkins said: “We have scored two goals in open play against a United side packed full of experience. Lambert had an exceptional game, Puncheon and Lallana were superb.

“They worked hard and we made the substitutions to give us more energy. But at this level you get punished for the smallest mistake.”

And Adkins added: “Fergie looks great for someone who has managed 1,000 league games. The job takes it toll on your body, physically and mentally and he has looked after himself.”