Man Utd 1 Brighton 3
Erik ten Hag’s side had somehow managed to accrue an unbeaten record at Old Trafford that baffles, as there have been many occasions they have been played off the park at home in the last thirteen months. The last side to do so however were the visitors this weekend, back in August 2022.
That defeat was the Man Utd manager’s first game in charge of the club. Since then, almost half a billion pounds has been spent on the squad and they are still no closer to challenging their 'noisy neighbours' when it comes to trophies. But of course that is all down to the Glazers, so we are led to believe.
New signing Rasmus Hojllund made his debut for the Red Devils, as did loan signing Sergio Reguilon as Man Utd looked to get their season back on track. Roberto de Zerbi made six changes from the side that comfortably beat Newcastle in their last game.
United started on the front foot and brought the first save of the game out of Brighton keeper Steele when Rashford cut inside and looked to score. Hojlund felt the ball should have been squared to him instead, as his reaction underlined.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
ten Hag was missing two key wingers as Jadon Sancho trains with the Under 8’s until he apologises to the manager for comments he made on social media, while Antony has a leave of absence to sort out personal issues.
In the Brazilian winger’s defence, you would only need to watch a showreel from his time at Old Trafford to know that he couldn’t hit the side of a barn door with a shovel and any investigation into claims made against him would end right there.
Brighton broke for the first time in the game, Adingra crossed from out wide, Lallana stepped over the ball for Welbeck to strike the ball past Onana in the United goal. Clinical counter-attack from The Seagulls.
Casemiro then sprayed a great pass from one side of the pitch to the other to find Rashford, setting the forward off towards goal. He cut inside and looked to get a shot away but it deflected off Veltman and clipped the corner of the upright.
Man Utd thought they had levelled when Rashford showed some great skill on the byline to cut the ball back to Hojlund who poked it home from close range. The Danish striker celebrated his first goal for the club, only to see it ruled out by VAR.
Replays show that the ball had gone out before Rashford found the striker. He cut in once again from the left onto his right foot but his shot was not troubling the Brighton goal just before the break.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
The Seagulls continued their attacking mindset in the second half when Lamptey fed it to Gross who dummied a shot, sending Martinez to the shops and slotted it past Onana to make it two-nil. Man Utd fans immediately started looking for their Norwich City scarves.
When Erik ten Hag decided to bring off Hojlund, sections of Old Trafford started to boo their manager to voice their thoughts on the decision. As Brighton came forward, Lamptey ran down the wing and squared it to Joao Pedro who side-footed the ball home.
Man Utd fans started to leave Old Trafford in their droves. Never leave the game early is the golden rule. For one, they missed Hannibal Mejbri’s wonder strike from some twenty-five yards out, his first senior goal for the club.
Brighton had two good chances to add more goals as they sliced through the middle of the hosts midfield with ease. Sadly for the travelling fans neither Mitoma or Fati could add the icing to the cake for The Seagulls.
As the final whistle sounded, none of this seemed to matter to the visitors as it was a convincing victory for de Zerbi’s much changed side. Meanwhile the deluded Erik ten Hag said in his post-match press conference ‘I think it was good’ when asked about fans booing his decision to bring Rasmus Hojlund off.
While Gary Neville continues his lectures on why the Glazers are the devil incarnate, the basic facts are the squad, manager and tactics are not working well and they are looking easy to play against. Yes, the facilities and ground need investment but Man Utd are still one of the biggest spenders on players in the last decade. Sadly, for their passionate fans, the fix does not seem a quick one.
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