United's U23 side have qualified for the last 16 of the Premier League Cup with a game to spare, after overcoming both Southampton and the weather at Whitley Park on Friday evening.

Fielding all but one of the starting lineup that beat Blyth Spartans here on Tuesday, the hosts took a 28th minute lead when winger Rosaire Longelo won a free kick deep in Saints territory on the left.

The ball was played into the box and fell to Luke Charman, who cracked a rising shot into the net for his first goal since return from a loan spell at Accrington Stanley.

However the striker's joy was short-lived as he stayed down following an innocuous challenge, belatedly stretchered off with his right ankle strapped up. 

Mo Sangare replaced Charman and an additional nine minutes were played at the end of the half, during which United's Thomas Allan shot past the advancing 'keeper but narrowly missed the target.

Blustery conditions affected what was the fourth league and cup meeting of these two sides in the last six months, but the black and whites gave Southampton virtually no sight of goal. 

One goal looked increasingly like being enough, but United's Matty Longstaff came close to doubling the lead with a 72nd minute free-kick that was heading towards the top corner before Jack Rose clawed it away at the expense of a corner.

A clinching second did arrive with ten minutes left though, Longelo threatening down the left and supplying an early low pull back to Yannick Toure.

United's number nine picked his spot and gave Rose no chance from 10 yards, before victory was rounded off three minutes into added time when Toure touched home following a free-kick for his fourth goal in as many days.

Victory means that Ben Dawson's side are assured of a top two finish in their group and a place in the first knockout phase of the competition.

Premier League Cup - Group H:

Remaining fixtures:

15.02.2019 Leeds v Notts County
22.02.2019 Southampton v Notts County
25.02.2019 Leeds v Newcastle

Newcastle are the fifth side to have qualified so far, along with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Reading and Everton.

Biffa