BRIGHTON 1, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
A second half headed goal by Pascal Gross secured Premier League safety for Brighton for another season but the Seagulls needed the intervention of goal line technology to confirm matters against a lacklustre Manchester United who went down to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season.
Victory allowed Brighton to move up to 40 points for the season – 11th – as they inflicted United’s first defeat on a Friday night in ten games and completed a hat trick of home victories this season against United for the promoted sides after Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United had repeated the feat earlier this season.
The Reds remained on 77 points in second place but handed Champions Manchester City the chance to extend their towering lead in the Premier League to a potential record 19 points on Sunday at home to Huddersfield Town.
United still need four points from their last two games at West Ham next Thursday, and at home to Watford on the last day of the season, to guarantee second place, and visited the Amex stadium with a much-changed side ahead of the FA Cup final later this month.
What Reds boss Jose Mourinho saw in the first half on the south coast will not have impressed him despite naming both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial on the team-sheet in the absence of Romelu Lukaku. In all, Mourinho made six changes from the side that won in injury time against Arsenal last Sunday.
Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata, Rashford, and Martial came in while Antonio Valencia, Victor Lindelof, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Lukaku, and Alexis Sanchez were rested. Crucially, the Reds’ attacking options off the bench looked thin as Lukaku was injured and Sanchez wasn’t in the match day squad for the game.
The Reds may have dominated possession but they were toothless in front of goal in the first period. Marcus Rashford’s volley was bravely blocked by Lewis Dunk and Marouane Fellaini had an early goal ruled out for offside as United drew a blank against the highly organised Seagulls with Paul Pogba looking like he had already started his summer holidays with many passes going astray – and he wasn’t the only misfiring Reds player.
Despite this, Chris Hughton’s men had the better chances. Pascal Gross tested David De Gea early before Glen Murray’s 25 yarder was wonderfully saved by the Spaniard who also denied Jose Izquierdo with a fingertip save in the first half.
Matt Ryan saved from Pogba in an improved second half start from United but Brighton went on to benefit from United’s wastefulness in front of goal.
Goal line technology ensured a vital goal for the Seagulls after Marcus Rojo’s last ditch clearance from Gross’s header from Izquierdo’s cross was deemed insufficient to keep the ball out of the goal in the 57th minute.
Anthony Knockaert was astounded to not be awarded a penalty after a couple of nibbles from Martial as the Brighton man raced into the area while Izquierdo fired wide of the post from Gross’ cross as the Seagulls looked to double their advantage over the Reds.
Juan Mata was brought down by Gross on the edge of the Brighton area midway through the second half but the Spanish playmaker’s free kick was wide of the mark.
Mourinho had already seen enough and withdrew Fellaini and Darmian, throwing on Luke Shaw and Lingard after 68 minutes.
Ryan palmed away Rashford’s shot and an effort by Lingard as United tested the Brighton ‘keeper.
Scott McTominay – Mourinho’s “Manager’s Player of the Year” in United’s awards ceremony earlier this week – was the last of Mourinho’s limited options deployed and he replaced Rojo as the Reds became more attacking but couldn’t find a way past the Seagulls.
Pobga’s radar was off target again, Martial’s super chest control and volley looked great but was wayward – and in the dying minutes Rashford and Lingard combined but the midfielder screwed a shot wide from 12 yards under pressure from Shane Duffy.
Brighton went for all out defence in the face of increased United pressure and managed to hold on for a famous victory to secure safety.
With a second place finish at stake and Liverpool and Spurs waiting in the wings in case of another slip, Mourinho will only have reinforced his opinions about squad players outside his trusted core ahead of the FA Cup final and what must surely be a summer clear-out after the end of the season.