Four star united win again
It is three wins in a row as Manchester United overcame bogey team at Old Trafford. First half goals from Brazilian pair Matheus Cunha and Casemiro put them on their way before Bryan Mbeumo sealed the win in the final minute. It is also Utd’s fourth home game win in a row.
It was a disappointing return from the South Coast club who were looking to extend their winning record at Old Trafford. They never really got to grips with the pace and energy of the home side. They did manage to make the game close in the closing stages but they went away empty handed.
Ruben Amorim made two changes from the side who won at Liverpool last time out. Harry Maguire picked a knock in training so was absent altogether so he was replaced by Leny Yoro. Benjamin Sesko also regained his place ahead of Mason Mount. Fabian Hurzeler made one change from the side who beat Newcastle last time out. Maxim De Cuyper came in for Diego Gomez. Former red Danny Welbeck was looking to extend his good recent form after four goals in three games.
Much talk was of Utd interest in Carlos Baleba in the August transfer window. The young midfielder has gone off the boil since then and was lucky to not give away a goal in the opening few minutes. He was robbed of possession by a combination of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. Mattheus Cunha put the chance just wide.
Brighton were looking decent on the ball without creating an opportunity of note at the other end. Georgino Rutter’s run down the left helped set up Danny Welbeck on 15 minutes but Fernandes managed to pull off a block in time. At the other end, Amad Diallo went to ground from a challenge from Maxim De Cuyper. The referee adjudged that the defender had got enough on the ball first. Moments later, Cunha had an effort go just wide.
He did not have long to wait for his debut goal for the club. United had Brighton pressed back and picked up on an attempted clearance. Superb close control from Fernandes and then Casemiro laid it into the path of the former Wolves man. He took a touch before sweeping it into the bottom corner. He wisely pulled out of a challenge that could have resulted in a penalty.
Ten minutes minutes later the lead was doubled. Yankuba Minteh was robbed in midfield and it came loose to Casemiro. His shot was on target but took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Yasin Ayari to wrongfoot Verbruggen.
Beleba received a booking for taking down Bryan Mbeumo after he skipped past Lewis Dunk as United tried to press home their advantage. He was later taken off as he struggled to cope with United’s pressing. Benjamin Sesko also had a chance to stretch the lead prior to the break.
Brighton needed to come out firing at the start of the second half if they had a chance of getting something from the game. It was the home side who looked the more likely to stretch the lead with Verbruggen forced to pull off saves from Sesko and Fernandes.
The third did arrive just after the hour. Luke Shaw stepped into midfield to win possession from Rutter that was ruled fair from the referee. He found Sesko who played a smart pass down the channels for Mbeumo to run into. He took a touch before sliding his shot through the legs of Dunk and into Verbruggen’s near post. He almost got a second 10 minutes later after being set up by Fernandes. Verbruggen pulled off a good save to tip it around the post.
With about 20 minutes left, Brighton found a response. They broke from a corner and Minteh broke clear of recent substitute Patrick Dorgu. His touch was poor and the ball looked to be claimed by Senne Lammens. He came together with Dorgu just outside the area. Brighton wanted a red card but had to settle with the soft free kick. Danny Welbeck stepped up to smash the resulting free into the top of the net despite Lammen’s best efforts.
The away side were bouyed by this and exerted most of the pressure in the closing stages. The announcement of seven additional minutes brought a groan from the home support.
This was increased when The Seagulls clawed another one back. Ferdi Kadioglu burst down the left and crossed into substitute Charalampos Kostoulas who’s effort was deflected wide. The evergreen James Milner swung in the corner and the Greek attacker got ahead of his marker to head past Lammens.
Despite the nerves in the stadium, the home side played all of the football in the opposition half. It was put to bed in the final minute when Ayden Heaven got ahead of his man to slide a ball through the middle. Fernandes dummied it and it came through to Mbeumo. He smashed the ball past the advancing Verbruggen into the bottom corner to the relief of the fans.
Just reward for what was generally a well controlled and positive display. They will be hoping to extend their run in an away trip to Nottingham Forest now under Sean Dyche next Saturday at 15:00. Brighton will be hoping to recover when they face Leeds United at the same time.
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Luke Shaw (Ayden Heaven 65), Casemiro (Kobee Mainoo 70), Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo (Patrick Dorgu), Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko (Joshua Zirkzee 81), Mattheus Cunha (Manuel Ugarte 81).
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Noussair Mazraoui, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia.
Booked: Patrick Dorgu (72), Benjamin Sesko (81)
Brighton and Hove Albion: Bart Verbruggen, Mats Wieffer (Stefanos Tzimas 87), Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Maxim De Cuyper (Tom Watson 59), Carlos Baleba (James Milner 59), Yasin Ayari (Diego Gomez 60), Ferdi Kadioglu, Georgino Rutter (Charalampos Kostoulas 79), Yankuba Minteh, Danny Welbeck.
Subs not used: Jason Steele, Olivier Boscagli, Diego Coppola, Nehemiah Oriola
Booked: Carlos Baleba (41), Ferdi Kadioglu (90+4)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendence:
Simply Red Man of the Match: Bryan Mbuemo
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