📰 Table Of Contents
Pre-Match Social Media Commentary
“if players don’t do what’s expected of them, they’re not going to play.”@TimHowardGK & @Higginbotham05 discuss how well Erik Ten Hag has done at Manchester United so far.
📺: @USANetwork | #MUFC pic.twitter.com/SWde5KjCaE— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 4, 2023
“He’s changed the culture, he’s changed the discipline” 🧠
How far off are Manchester United from the side Erik ten Hag is trying to create? pic.twitter.com/dxlgLC4pDa
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2023
“You’re as good as your last game” 👊
Erik ten Hag is fully focused on the task at hand this evening and isn’t going to get complacent after Manchester United’s win over Aston Villa. pic.twitter.com/mj2fRHYzJe
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2023
Liverpool want to be fast on the Alexis Mac Allister deal. Understand May and June will be crucial months to proceed in talks. 🚨🔴 #LFC
The proposal has been submitted and project presented, as revealed this morning ⤵️🇦🇷 https://t.co/7VgB12Mprq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 4, 2023
“It matters the most now.” 💬 Webby previews tonight’s game. ⤵ pic.twitter.com/ohGcKFn2IO
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 4, 2023
Fred instead of Eriksen is interesting but against the ‘top’ teams away from home, #MUFC have been vulnerable. Makes sense to play the Brazilian duo in there.
— Tom McDermott (@MrTomMcDermott) May 4, 2023
It was a story that wrote its own script tonight when Brighton clashed with Manchester United on the south coast not long after the Red Devils reached the final of the FA Cup at the Seagulls’ expense, with Roberto De Zerbi’s men exacting revenge, ironically from the penalty spot, to secure all three points against another big name in English football.
Brighton was the better of the two sides on the night across another performance that will have many using as evidence to suggest that the former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo tactician deserves serious consideration for manager of the season while putting the club on course for their highest-ever Premier League finish and European football on their neck of the. south coast for the first time ever.
You couldn’t make it up, #BHAFC lose on pens in FA Cup semi-final to #MUFC and now Mac Allister settles this absorbing @premierleague game from the spot in De Zerbi time. And just what they deserved. #BHAMUN
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 4, 2023
The Red Devils nearly got off to a dream start after ninety seconds at the AMEX when Brazilian winger Antony was put through on goal down the central channel by a ball from Bruno Fernandes when Ten Hag’s men broke quickly in transition, but the former Ajax Amsterdam starlet could only slice his effort wide of Jason Steele’s far post.
Brighton countered with their own big chance through Kaoru Mitoma after the Japanese international intercepted Victor Lindelöf’s lazy sideways pass to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but David De Gea did well to stand tall and unintentionally turn away with his head when Mitoma should have otherwise made it 1-0 to the home side. It was an indication of the Seagulls’ ability to press, with 53 chances coming from their ability to press high across the season.
Unsurprisingly, Mitoma remained the key outlet for Roberto De Zerbi’s men on account of the Japanese winger leading all players in successful take-ons in the league, while United seemed content to sit a bit deeper and engage in the press at the halfway line and look to spring on the counter. United found joy in that regard despite being unable to find a goal after thirty minutes, but a number of half-chances had presented themselves.
In-demand midfielder Alexis Mac Allister had a good chance of his own after thirty-five minutes from just outside the area, but his bending effort could only sail high and wide of De Gea’s far post, but still, Brighton was proving up to the task against a side in United who have been in credible form of late.
De Zerbi’s men came out the stronger of the two sides after the half-time interval, even more on the front foot than the previous 45-minute period and looking good value to find a match opener in front of home support as United were incapable of keeping up their own efforts in the press.
Jason Steele came up big in the 68th minute after the Seagulls were denied a shout for a penalty after Mitoma went down in the box, with Marcus Rashford’s curling effort destined for the far corner justly turned aside to keep the scoreline level still.
Both De Zerbi and Ten Hag made a number of changes in the second half as both outfits looked to preserve a clean sheet while also giving themselves the best possible chance of finding a breakthrough, with the Italian calling upon Solly March, Denis Undav, and Levi Colwill, while the Red Devils’ Dutchman brought on Marcel Sabitzer, Jadon Sancho, and Wout Weghorst.
ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER WINS IT WITH THE LAST KICK OF THE MATCH!#BHAFC pic.twitter.com/GmMSM3kDq0
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 4, 2023
Brighton kept knocking on the door in the final minute of stoppage time and was awarded a pen at the death after Luke Shaw committed a handball in the box when challenging a corner by the Seagulls, which World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister duly dispatched past David De Gea to give De Zerbi’s men their FA Cup revenge.
That result lifted the Seagulls into 6th place with a match in hand on those around them, allowing the south coast club a chance to continue dreaming of European nights for the first time in the club’s history.
As for United, a chance to slip into third and ahead of Newcastle United went begging as the club failed to win against any of the top nine sides in the league this season, calling into question their away from across the broader perspective of their campaign under Ten Hag.
Key Stats & Performers
FULL TIME
Brighton 1-0 Manchester United
That was quite the game. pic.twitter.com/vsQmCIhi78
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) May 4, 2023
Brighton 1 (2.0)-(1.8) 0 Manchester United pic.twitter.com/AiCkAaucph
— Cannon Stats (@CannonStats) May 4, 2023
Alexis Mac Allister’s game by numbers vs. Man Utd:
89% pass accuracy
50 passes completed
12 ball recoveries
8 ground duels won
4 long balls completed
2 crosses completed
3 tackles won
2 dribbles completed
1 goalMatch winner. 💫 pic.twitter.com/wJHbK4HHhv
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 4, 2023
Brighton have done the double on Manchester United in the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Payback. 💰 pic.twitter.com/D7Ek9xMXHD
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 4, 2023
Man United have failed to win away from home against the top 9 sides in the Premier League table this season… #BHAFC #MUFC
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 4, 2023
Alexis Mac Allister has scored 6/6 Penalties in the premier League this season, that’s 66% of his Premier League goals this season.
12 yard specialist. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/vfVSW3OxWD
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 4, 2023
Manchester United away to the Premier League’s top 10 this season:
L6-3 City; L3-2 Arsenal; L2-0 Newc; L7-0 Liverpool; L1-0 Brighton; D2-2 Spurs; L3-1 Villa; L4-0 Brentford; W2-1 Fulham
P9 W1 D1 L7 F10 A29 PTS 4 from 27
That is atrocious by any reckoning #MUFC— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) May 4, 2023
