Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fine start continued as Manchester United’s caretaker manager became the first boss in the club’s history to win his first consecutive six league games following the 2-1 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Almost 25 years to the day since Matt Busby died, Solskjaer made it seven wins from seven in all competitions on the one-month anniversary of his appointment. Two of the players to have shone in his short tenure scored again.
Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba had already threatened the Brighton goal before United were awarded a penalty.
Pogba latched on to a long Nemanja Matic pass on the right flank by taking a touch inside Gaetan Bong, who bundled into the back of the Frenchman to concede the spot-kick.
The usual stuttering run-up followed, but Pogba placed his effort into the right-hand corner, past David Button’s right hand to put United in front.
Button was able to make himself big and prevent Anthony Martial making it 2-0, while Brighton’s Glenn Murray fired a great chance wide with a miss that would look even more costly before the break.
With three first-half minutes remaining, left-back Diogo Dalot, a late inclusion in the starting XI due to Luke Shaw’s injury, fed Rashford and he cut inside Gross before bending a fine right-footed finish into the far corner.
Rashford continued to look in the mood after the interval, firing in a cross that Jesse Lingard somehow failed to direct home from close range.
Martial blasted into the side netting, but United’s intensity dropped and Brighton were given hope with 18 minutes to go.
Davy Propper’s outside-of-the-foot cross reached Gross, who chested the ball down and poked the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.
A nervy finish for the home side thenceforth ensued, and though Pogba was unable to alleviate the tension when rifling just wide, United held on to round off a fantastic first month on the job for Solskjaer.
What does it mean? Solskjaer staking his claim for full-time gig
It is no secret that Solskjaer would like the United job beyond the end of the 2018-19 season, and the club’s hierarchy must have been impressed with his stint so far. United face Burnley, Leicester City and Fulham in the Premier League before hosting Liverpool on February 24, so they could yet make further ground on the top four in the coming weeks.
Rashford in inspired form again
Plenty has been said about Pogba’s resurgence under Solskjaer, but Rashford appears to have really benefited from having a former United striker to tutor him. Nobody has scored more for United since Rashford’s debut in 2016, and the shaped finish for his 41st goal was one Solskjaer himself would have been proud of.
Murray’s mystifying miss
Murray had set Brighton on their way to a 3-2 win over United in the reverse fixture five months ago, yet he was less assured when opportunity knocked here. United were only 1-0 up when Murray found himself onside and free, but he sliced the chance wide, and Rashford’s strike shortly after gave Brighton too much to do, even with Gross’ second-half goal.
What’s next?
Both clubs turn their attention to the FA Cup, with United travelling to Arsenal in the fourth round on Friday and Brighton hosting West Brom the following day.
