Report: United 1 Brighton 3

Despite a dominant start from Erik ten Hag's men, in which we had a flurry of chances, former Red Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for the opposition in the 20th minute. Rasmus Hojlund looked to have pulled things level just before the break, only for VAR to rule the ball had crossed the byline before he converted Marcus Rashford's cross.

A promising start after the break meant little as we would see us concede a second down the other end, this time Pascal Gross on target. Substitute Joao Pedro made it three, opening up his body to burry his effort and leave us with a big ask in the final 20 minutes. 

Hannibal's wonder strike from range pulled one back at the Stretford End, but it would be nothing more than a consolation. 

Erik ten Hag’s men started the game with real intent, particularly with their high press on today’s visitors. Our first real sight of goal came six minutes into the half, with a weaving Rashford denied by Jason Steele between the sticks. 

A sublime bit of play would soon follow, which began with Scott McTominay stunting a Brighton attack. A slick piece of skill from Christian Eriksen then urged the Reds forward, with Bruno Fernandes pinging a ball into the path of Rashford, who drove toward the byline. His cross almost found frontman Hojlund, but the Dane couldn’t quite connect. 

For all of United’s dominance, it was the Seagulls who took the lead after 20 minutes, with former Red Welbeck firing them ahead. Simon Adringa’s ball into the box was smartly dummied by Adam Lallana, leaving an undetected Welbeck to burst into the box and finish. 

Ten Hag’s side soon surged forward in search of an equaliser. Rashford, who was at the heart of the first half action, skipped inside from the left before unleashing a wicked ball that ricocheted off the outside of a post after taking a deflection. 

Five minutes from the interval and it looked as though United found a way back into the game, with Hojlund appearing to get off the mark in red. Rashford showed some excellent skill in the box, ushering Hecke from left to right, before finding our no.11 in the area, who turned and slotted home. A VAR intervention would see the leveller ruled out, though, judging that Rashford carried the ball millimetres over the dead-ball line. 

Our no.10 had yet another sight of goal in the approach to half-time, cutting inside once more, but his powerful effort failed to test Steele. 

Chasing the game, the Reds returned with the hunger to find a way back onto level terms. It began with Hojlund, whose lovely turn saw him set Rashford away, but our no.10’s effort could only hit the side-netting. 

Unfortunately, moments later, Brighton doubled their lead through Gross, who has a knack of scoring against us. Kaoru Mitoma picked the ball up on the right, laying it off to Tariq Lamptey who poked the ball into his onrushing team-mate, who skipped passed Lisandro Martinez to fire home. 

Ten Hag turned to his bench in order to make a difference, with young Hannibal winning a free-kick immediately after his introduction - but Rashford’s effort was gathered comfortably by Steele. Up the other end, the Seagulls put themselves three to the good with second-half substitute Joao Pedro firing beyond Andre Onana to all but secure the win for the visiting side. 

WIth a hefty scoreline to chase, we made a promising in-road as Hannibal rifled a speculative effort on goal, beating Steele from distance, though it would be nothing more than a consolation for the Reds who fell to a rare defeat at home, our first in the league since losing to Brighton on the opening day of last term. 

MATCH DETAILS

United: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez (Wan-Bissaka 85), Reguilon (Pellistri 85); Casemiro (Hannibal 64), McTominay (Garnacho 85), Fernandes; Eriksen, Rashford, Hojlund (Martial 64).

Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Evans, Maguire, Gore.

Goals: Hannibal 73.

Bookings: Fernandes, Hannibal.

Brighton XI: Steele; Lamptey (Milner 76), Dunk (c), van Hecke, Veltman; Adringa (Ferguson 85), Dahoud (Gilmour 77), Gross, Lallana (Fati 63), Mitoma; Welbeck (Pedro 64).

Unused substitutes: Verbruggen, Julio, Webster, Baleba.

Goals: Welbeck 20; Gross 53; Joao Pedro 72.

Bookings: Lamptey, Van Hecke.