A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( v )
16 SEPTEMBER 2023 - MANCHESTER UNITED 1 ( Hannibal Mejbri
1 - 73 minutes ) BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 ( Danny Welbeck 1 -
20 minutes, Pascal Gross 1 - 53 minutes, Joao Pedro 1 - 71 minutes )
- PREMIER LEAGUE - at OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER.
The Seagulls travelled North to meet Manchester United in a Premier League encounter
at Old Trafford, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport 2 and BBC
Radio Sussex Sport. The Albion were on a winning streak against their hosts, having
beaten United in their last three Premier League meetings.
Surprisingly, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made six changes to his starting
line-up from the team which beat Newcastle United 3-1 at the Amex on the 2 September,
with Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Mahmoud Dahoud, Simon Adringa, Adam Lallana and
Danny Welbeck coming in for Bart Verbruggen, Pervis Estupinan (exhausted), Billy
Gilmour, Solly March (injured), Joao Pedro and Evan Ferguson. Verbruggen, Gilmour,
Pedro and Ferguson dropped down to the substitutes bench, where they were joined by
recent signings Carlos Baleba and Ansu Fati.
In their previous Premier League outing United lost 1-3 at Arsenal on the 3 September
and for Albion's visit Manager Erik Ten Hag made three changes to his starting line-up
from that game, with Sergio Reguilon, Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund replacing
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Antony and Anthony Martial.
In their meetings last season Albion did the double over United, winning 2-1 at Old
Trafford on the 7 August 2022, with Pascal Gross netting twice (30m & 39m) and United's
goal being an Alexis Mac Allister own goal (68m). In the return game at the Amex on the
4 May 2023 the Albion won 1-0 through an Alexis Mac Allister penalty (99m). Albion's
line-up at Old Trafford on the 7 August 2022 was (3-4-2-1):- Robert Sanchez; Joel
Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Adam Webster; Pascal Gross, Alexis Mac Allister, Moises
Caicedo, Leandro Trossard (Tariq Lamptey 75); Solly March (Levi Colwill 90+1), Adam
Lallana (Enock Mwepu 76); Danny Welbeck (Deniz Undav 90+1). Subs not used: Jason
Steele (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Kaoru Mitoma, Jeremy Sarmiento, Neal Maupay.
The Red Devils started brightly and early on Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele made a smart
save from Marcus Rashford's snap shot but the Seagulls settled and took the lead on 20
minutes when Simon Adringa's low cross from the right found Danny Welbeck in the middle
and the former United player calmly netted with a left-foot shot from close-in. 1-0. Minutes
later Mahmoud Dahoud's pass found Welbeck some 20 yards out but the striker's curled
shot just cleared the United crossbar. Rashford then came close to equalising for the home
side but his well-struck shot hit the junction of bar and post. Just before the interval United
thought they had equalised through Rasmus Hojlund but the goal was ruled out by VAR, as the
ball had run out of play previously. The Seagulls had been the better team first-half and were
deservedly ahead. Half-time 1-0.
The Albion made a superb start to the second-half when a fine move involving Kaoru Mitoma
and Tariq Lamptey ended with Pascal Gross wrong-footing defender Lisandro Martinez before
firing home a low right-foot shot from 12 yards out. 2-0. On 64 minutes Albion brought on
Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati (20) as substitute for Adam Lallana, for his Albion debut. Keeper
Steele was then called into action, saving a long-range effort from United captain Bruno
Fernandes and on 71 minutes the Seagulls scored a third when Lamptey raced down the left
before squaring a pass to substitute Joao Pedro, who finished with aplomb. Another fine
Albion goal and their supporters were ecstatic. 3-0. Within minutes United had pulled a goal
back when substitute Hannibal Mejbri flashed home a piledriver of a shot from 20 yards out,
giving keeper Steele no chance. 3-1. Chances were thereafter created at both ends, Victor
Lindelof headed over and United keeper Andre Onana saved brilliantly on three occasions to
thwart efforts by Mitoma and substitutes Evan Ferguson and Ansu Fati. A magnificent win for
the Albion. Final-score 3-1.
Match stats: Albion had 10 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks
conceded - 9. Manchester United had 14 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 8
corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
VERDICT - This was not a surprise result, it was expected by most followers of football.
Albion outplayed United on the day and thoroughly deserved their win, which was their
fourth victory in the last four Premier League games against United. Head Coach Roberto
De Zerbi surprisingly made six changes to his starting line-up from the Newcastle game.
The changes didnt affect the Seagulls one bit and merely shows the strength in depth of
the Albion squad. The Albion finished the matchday 5 of games in fifth position in the
Premier.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk
(Capt), Tariq Lamptey (James Milner 77); Pascal Gross, Mahmoud Dahoud (Billy
Gilmour 77); Simon Adringa (Evan Ferguson 85), Adam Lallana (Ansu Fati 64), Kaoru
Mitoma; Danny Welbeck (Joao Pedro 64). Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Igor
Julio, Adam Webster, Carlos Baleba.
Manchester United line-up (4-1-2-1-2):- Andre Onana; Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof,
Lisandro Martinez (Aaron Wan-Bissaka 85), Sergio Reguilon (Alejandro Garnacho 85);
Casemiro (Hannibal Mejbri 64); Scott McTominay (Facundo Pellistri 85), Christian
Eriksen; Bruno Fernandes (Capt); Rasmus Hojlund (Anthony Martial 64), Marcus
Rashford. Subs not used: Altay Bayindir (G/K), Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Daniel
Gore.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Queensland, Australia). VAR Official: Chris Kavanagh,
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Jan Paul Van Hecke, Tariq Lamptey. Manchester United:
2 - Hannibal Mejbri, Bruno Fernandes.
Possession: Albion - 56%. Manchester United - 44%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).
Attendance: 73592.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
21 SEPTEMBER 2023 - AEK ATHENS - home - Europa League
- kick-off 20.00.
24 SEPTEMBER 2023 - AFC BOURNEMOUTH - home - Premier
League - kick-off 14.00.
27 SEPTEMBER 2023 - CHELSEA - away - Carabao Cup, Third
Round - kick-off 19.45.
30 SEPTEMBER 2023 - ASTON VILLA - away - Premier League
- kick-off 12.30. "Live" on TNT Sports.
ALBION 4-YEAR FLASHBACK - 19 JANUARY 2019 - PREMIER
LEAGUE - OLD TRAFFORD - MANCHESTER UNITED 2 (Paul
Pogba 1, penalty - 27 minutes, Marcus Rashford 1 - 42 minutes)
ALBION 1 (Pascal Gross 1 - 72 minutes).
Albion line-up (4-5-1):- David Button; Martin Montoya, Shane Duffy,
Lewis Dunk (Capt), Gaetan Bong; Solly March (Anthony Knockaert 61),
Pascal Gross (Beram Kayal 82), Dale Stephens, Davy Propper, Jurgen
Locadia; Glenn Murray (Florin Andone 60). Subs not used: Jason
Steele (G/K), Bruno Saltor, Leon Balogun, Viktor Gyokeres. Manager:
Chris Hughton.
Manchester United line-up (4-3-3):- David De Gea; Ashley Young (Capt),
Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Diogo Dalot; Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic,
Paul Pogba; Jesse Lingard (Juan Mata 75), Marcus Rashford (Matteo
Darmian 90+4), Anthony Martial (Romelu Lukaku 83). Subs not used:
Sergio Romero (G/K), Eric Bailly, Andreas Pereira, Alexis Sanchez.
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Attendance: 74532.
Jack Kaye
19 September 2023.