Manchester United’s fleeting uptick in form ended in familiar fashion on Jan 19 with a 3-1 English Premier League defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils had avoided defeat in their last three matches in all competitions, but that run came to an end against the Seagulls, who have become a perennial problem for United.They have now won eight of their 16 Premier League meetings against United, with their 50 per cent winning rate the best record against the Red Devils of any team in the league.
This despite coming into the tie having won just one of their last eight league matches.Brighton opened the scoring with the first chance of the game in just the fifth minute.
Carlos Baleba’s long ball from the back found Kaoru Mitoma on the left wing and he exploited the high defensive line by outpacing Noussair Mazraoui before squaring to Yankuba Minteh to finish past Andre Onana.
That seemed to rouse Ruben Amorim’s side.On 17 minutes, Amad Diallo combined with Mazraoui to provide Bruno Fernandes with a shooting chance from outside the box, but he did not get a clean connection and scuffed it wide.But, five minutes later, United were level.
Baleba fouled Joshua Zirkzee inside the box as the positive side of United’s high press came to the fore, disrupting Brighton’s attempts to play out from the back.From the resultant penalty, Fernandes beat Bart Verbruggen to make it 1-1.
Two minutes before the break, a sloppy stretched pass back by Fernandes was picked up by Minteh, who slipped in to Danny Welbeck, but his shot in the area was well blocked by Diogo Dalot.
Early in the second half, Joao Pedro had the ball in the net following a weird sequence of events after a mishit Brighton free kick, but the 53rd-minute strike was ruled out after a video assistant referee review due to a foul on Dalot by Jan Paul van Hecke.
But Brighton were not to be denied, as Minteh and Mitoma reversed roles for the Seagulls’ second seven minutes later.
Yasin Ayari set off on a strong run in the middle of the park before picking out Minteh, whose teasing cross was turned in by the outstretched leg of Mitoma at the far post.
United capped off a below-par second half by conceding a woeful third goal on 76 minutes.Onana spilled a routine low Ayari cross, allowing substitute Georginio Rutter an easy tap-in. On his fourth goal in his last three games, the French striker said: “I’m very happy but it’s about the team, they help me to score every week.“
It can be hard when a new player comes and you’re expected to score straight away but they have been patient with me.” Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler “We showed a very mature performance.
We had a good balance of good defence and controlling the game in possession. We dominated, especially the second half, and created the chances…
“It’s always something special to win at Old Trafford against a very big opponent and a club with big traditions.”
The home team, meanwhile, finished the match with just one shot on target. United have now lost six of the eight league games this season after going 1-0 down.
The result leaves United 13th in the league on 26 points after their 10th loss in 22 games, while Brighton are ninth, eight points better off.Six of those defeats have come at home, their most from their opening 12 home matches of a league season since 1893-94 (seven).
Despite winning just three of his 11 league matches since taking over in November, Amorim told Sky Sports: “I’m not going to change the way I see the game. I’m very clear on that.“The players are going to suffer, I’m sorry, the fans are going to suffer.
I have one way of doing things, I know it’s going to (bring) results.”In even worse form than United are Tottenham Hotspur, who were beaten 3-2 by Everton at Goodison Park to give manager David Moyes his first win in his second coming at the club.
Spurs are 15th on 24 points with the Toffees one place below them on 20.Meanwhile, third-placed Nottingham Forest continued their excellent season with a 3-2 home win over bottom-placed Southampton. They are now level on points (44) with second-placed Arsenal