Hello! And welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of this afternoon’s clash between Brighton and Man United from the AMEX Stadium.
Brighton has not been a happy hunting ground for United over the years.
Last season saw Chris Hughton’s side secure their Premier League survival with a memorable 1-0 win, while the only other meeting between the pair by the seaside ended in another 1-0 win for the hosts in 1982.
The Premier League is back up and running and both sides will be intent on getting points on the board here today. Jose Mourinho’s men began with a 2-1 win over Leicester, while the Seagulls fell 2-0 away to Watford.
Kick-off is coming up in just under at hour at 4.00pm!
Let’s get started with the team news…
3⃣ changes from the opening day win over Leicester - what do we think, #MUFC fans? #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/9JvGhIatg9
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2018
🔢 Here's how Albion line up for today's @premierleague game against @ManUtd at the Amex Stadium...
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
2⃣ changes - Martin Montoya comes in for his Albion debut. Gaetan Bong also returns.
🔵⚪️ #BHAFC v #MUFC 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/iizZ56NO1h
So, today’s teams will line out as:
Brighton: Ryan; Montoya, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, March; Gross; Murray.
Subs: Button, Bernardo, Balogun, Kayal, Bissouma, Jahabakhsh, Locadia.
Man United: De Gea; Young, Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw; Fred, Pereira, Pogba, Mata; Lukaku, Martial.
Subs: Grant, Smalling, Herrera, Fellaini, McTominay, Lingard, Rashford.
There’s 45 minutes to go before kick-off, but who’s going to come out on top this afternoon? Let us know below!
Poll Results:
The week has been dominated by the ongoing controversy surrounding Jose Mourinho’s relationship with Paul Pogba.
The pair have reportedly endured a tetchy couple of seasons at Old Trafford, however the Portuguese has put all the speculation to bed by saying he has never been happier with the French midfielder, who will captain Man United again today.
“The truth is we are together for two years and a couple of weeks and I’ve never been so happy with him as I am now. That’s the truth. I cannot demand more from him,” Mourinho said.
⚽️ Out for the warm-up! Kick-off is just 40 minutes away!#BHAMUN #BHAFC 🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/2co0kdprVx
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
Chris Hughton’s side enjoyed a memorable 1-0 win at the AMEX against Man United last season, but have suffered their first defeat of the new season already. The Brighton boss said he will be looking for an immediate response to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat away to Watford.
“We were very disappointed with the performance last week,” he said. “We can win or lose anywhere, particularly away from home, and we didn’t expect a comfortable game. If you lose in a manner you can accept, that’s okay, but the performance was not at a level we expected.
“I need to make decisions on the changes I need to make. It’s a bad start for us. We need a reaction.”
KICK-OFF: We’re underway for the first half!
A very strong start from Brighton, who are happy to impose themselves right from the off. Chris Hughton’s side are whizzing the ball from side-to-side and pressing high up the pitch. The question is can they maintain this intensity for the entire duration of the game?
A decent passage of play as Man United begin to maintain possession up and down the pitch. Fred surges through midfield before the ball is offloaded to the returning Anthony Martial out wide on the left wing. He tries to fizz the ball towards Romelu Lukaku inside the box, but the French winger’s cross is wayward and ends up no-where.
Much better again from Brighton, who have a lot about them in attack. Solly March takes command of the ball out wide left but his dangerous cross is caught by David de Gea, who comes from his line to end the danger.
A second cross in quick succession that needs a De Gea intervention. This time it’s from the opposite wing and the right boot of Anthony Knockaert. He curls another inviting ball into the mixer — but the Spanish goalkeeper is quickest to it.
Some sloppy defending from Brighton allows Paul Pogba to pick out Lukaku with a clever pass. The Belgian has a great chance to test Mathew Ryan between the sticks, but snatches at the effort and hammers it wide of the target.
Not for the first time Anthony Knockaert gets the better of Luke Shaw. The winger easily knocks the ball by the left back, before Shaw draws the foul to end the danger. Shaw scored a brilliant goal against Leicester last Friday, but once again his defensive credentials are being called into question.
Brighton forced into an early switch after just 20 minutes. Lewis Dunk is replaced by Leon Balogun off the bench.
Bad news for Brighton as skipper Lewis Dunk is forced to come off ten minutes after picking up a knock.
— COPA90 (@COPA90) August 19, 2018
A chance goes begging for Knockaert, who latches onto a ball played behind enemy lines. Man United’s back four was at sixes and sevens, completely switched off to the danger — however Knockaert took his strike a little too early and dragged it comfortably wide of the bottom corner.
GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-0 MAN UNITED (MURRAY 25)
25: GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! Come on!
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
🔵⚪️ #BHAFC 1-0 #MUFC 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/nHY1u3PcXe
Brighton are ahead and it’s Glenn Murray who steers a brilliant finish past David de Gea at the front post. It was seriously lax defending once again, with Victor Lindeloef failing to sense the danger. What a start for the hosts!
GOAL! BRIGHTON 2-0 MAN UNITED (DUFFY 27)
27: GOOOOOAAAAALLL! It's two! Come on!
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
🔵⚪️ #BHAFC 2-0 #MUFC 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/m926x59aCg
Brighton are two goals to the good, can you believe it! The hosts snatch two quick-fire goals in the space of three minutes and Man United supporters are in shock at the AMEX Stadium. Ireland defender Shane Duffy latches onto possession following some panic inside the box after a corner, before side-footing the ball past De Gea and into the bottom corner. A brilliantly composed finish from the defender, who usually scores with his head!
Superb first touch by Duffy to kill that ball before scoring. Technique. 2-0 @OfficialBHAFC #MUFC
— Ian Ladyman (@Ian_Ladyman_DM) August 19, 2018
GOAL! BRIGHTON 2-1 MAN UNITED (LUKAKU 34)
YES! @RomeluLukaku9 pulls one back for #MUFC - game on! #BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/ekzGp19y5t
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2018
What a first half this is turning out to be, Man United pull one back! Romelu Lukaku delivers his first Premier League goal of the season, succeeding with a close-range header which he steers expertly into Matthew Ryan’s bottom corner. It’s 2-1!
A breathless ten minutes, with three goals to boast. Brighton were in absolute dreamland with that quick-fire double, but Jose Mourinho’s men continued unabated and have halved the deficit with half-time still a while away. This game is far from over, and Brighton face a tough ask to hang onto this lead under such sustained pressure.
Anthony Knockaert almost restores his side’s two goal cushion. He stands over a free-kick in a promising area, but his curled strike just bends narrowly wide of David de Gea’s top corner. Close, but no cigar.
Another decent break from Brighton, who are still coming out swinging despite Lukaku’s strike. Gaetan Bong bombs down the left wing and provides a dangerous low cross, but yet again De Gea dives early, reads the danger and gathers with composure. He commands his box expertly, it has to be said.
PENALTY BRIGHTON! Eric Bailly is penalised for a rash challenge on Pascal Gross inside the box. It was a reckless challenge from the defender following another excellent, quick attack from Chris Hughton’s men.
GOAL! BRIGHTON 3-1 MAN UNITED (GROSS 44)
43: GOOOOOOOAAAAALLL! Gross is fouled by Bailly but picks himself up to fire in the spot-kick! Come on!
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
🔵⚪️ #BHAFC 3-1 #MUFC 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/mi6p6dmGhG
He scores! After being fouled for the spot-kick, Pascal Gross stands up and sticks the ball into the back of the net past David de Gea with confidence. Brighton are 3-1 ahead just before the interval, who could have seen this coming?
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 3-1 MAN UNITED
Can't take your eyes off this one...#BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/Spr9qlD50C
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 19, 2018
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway for another 45 minutes!
A double switch from Jose Mourinho at the break. Mata and Pereira make way as Lingard and Rashford enter off the bench.
Brighton starting the second half pressing all over the pitch, but Man United are hell bent on trying to bring this level again. They face a mammoth task, however Jose Mourinho has added a bit more attacking potency in the final third with the introduction of Lingard and Rashford off the bench.
Man United struggling to get going at the moment as the game’s pace slows down just a notch. A corner is lofted into the box by Ashley Young – Paul Pogba rises highest to meet it but heads well wide of the target.
Luke Shaw persists going forward down the left wing before crossing, but Romelu Lukaku’s run is marginally too slow to try and test Matthew Ryan with a header. Better from Mourinho’s men, but still no goal. And they need two.
A third and final switch from Jose Mourinho as Marouane Fellaini replaces Anthony Martial.
Another change for #MUFC - Fellaini is on for Martial with half an hour to play. #BHAMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2018
Still no joy for Mourinho, who looks exasperated on the sideline. So much credit has to go to the man in the home dugout, however. Once again Chris Hughton has masterminded an exemplary display against Man United — who look devoid of ideas at the moment as blue and white bodies remain disciplined and structured at the back. There’s just no way through.
The hosts come close to adding a fourth at the other end. A rare attack for Brighton in this second half as Solly March dances through a host of challenges before being stopped dead in his tracks by Eric Bailly. A great interception.
Save! Matthew Ryan with a superb save to deny Paul Pogba. The ball fell to the Manchester United captain 30 yards from goal — he took one touch to compose himself before releasing an almighty effort which looked destined for the back of the net. Ryan read it early, though, and leapt across his goal-line to bat it away. Incredible responses.
Time is running out out for Man United with 10 minutes remaining, but the lack of any sort of ingenuity or purpose going forward is shocking, to say the least. Brighton have looked content to keep hold of their two goal lead all second half, but the visitors have had so little urgency that the Seagulls’ lead has never looked under any real threat. Very surprising.
“I won’t be doing Monday Night Football tomorrow if the result stays like this,” jokes Gary Neville in commentary. It’s been that sort of an evening for Man United fans. Grim, just very grim.
Brighton with a spark of life as Dale Stephens takes a lofted ball down right inside the box with grace and ease. The central midfielder looks set to pull the trigger, but a crucial block at the last second sees the ball away for a corner.
A final substitution from Chris Hughton as stoppage time approaches. Goalscorer Pascal Gross is replaced by Beram Kayal with a couple of minutes to go.
89: SUB - Albion make their second change of the game, as Gross comes off for Kayal.
— Brighton & Hove Albion ⚽️ (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2018
🔵⚪️ #BHAFC 3-1 #MUFC 🔴⚫️
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
PENALTY MAN UNITED! Late drama at the AMEX as Shane Duffy brings Marouane Fellaini down from behind with a sloppy challenge. It’s a penalty with 30 seconds to go.
GOAL! BRIGHTON 3-2 MAN UNITED (POGBA 95)
Goal! @PaulPogba scores a late penalty for #MUFC... pic.twitter.com/Xfkqh4PnVS
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 19, 2018
Man United are now just one goal down as Paul Pogba emphatically rifles the ball into the top corner. A superb, superb penalty and Pogba’s second goal in as many Premier League games — but it might just be too late. Only a handful of seconds remaining.
FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON 3-2 MAN UNITED
Brighton are off the mark for the season with another famous victory at the Amex Stadium#BHAMUN pic.twitter.com/sNNPXzmCo4
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 19, 2018
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