Sports

Pogba, Rashford on target in Record-breaking win for Solskjaer

Published

5 years ago

January 19, 2019

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the first Manchester United manager to win his first six league games in charge as his side held on to beat Brighton.
It was United’s seventh straight win since the Norwegian took over at Old Trafford on an interim basis a month ago and they are now just three points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who play Arsenal in Saturday’s late kick-off.

Paul Pogba put United in front after winning and then converting a penalty in the 27th minute.

Marcus Rashford doubled the lead just before half-time with a beautiful solo goal on his 150th appearance for the club.

Pascal Gross halved the deficit for the visitors when he scored in off the bar with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Brighton improved in the second half but their wretched away record continued as they fell to a fifth defeat in their last eight Premier League games.
The last time these sides met was in August, when United’s season under Jose Mourino began unravelling with a 3-2 defeat.

But United’s first-half performance at Old Trafford on Saturday was worlds apart from that game last summer.

Solskjaer almost had the luxury of naming an unchanged line-up for back-to-back league games for the first time since December 2017, but Luke Shaw fell ill in the warm-up and Diogo Dalot took his place.

United put Brighton under relentless pressure from the off and deservedly took the lead.

Nemanja Matic’s cross-field pass found Pogba, whose first touch took him past Gaetan Bong and the defender then clumsily nudged him over.

The Frenchman’s stuttering penalty run-up has not completely disappeared, but this was nowhere near as long as his 26-step effort against Everton back in October and he slotted his shot past David Button.

Rashford’s recent goalscoring form continued as he got his ninth of the season and his fifth under Solskjaer.

The England striker was played in by Dalot, sent Gross the wrong way and then bent his shot into the top corner.

Rashford was excellent for the first hour, spraying passes about with confidence and whipping in a stunning cross for Jesse Lingard, who prodded wide when he really should have scored.

United eased off in the final 20 minutes, lacking sharpness and became sloppy as they missed out on a fourth clean sheet in a row.

United travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday (19:55 GMT). They then host Burnley in the league on 29 January.

Brighton are also in cup action and host Championship side West Brom on Saturday (15:00 GMT). The Seagulls then travel to Premier League strugglers Fulham on 29 January.