Man United moved back into the top four of the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Brighton at Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick’s side were dominated in the first-half by the Seagulls, with many home fans booing them off at the break.
But Cristiano Ronaldo ended his six-match goal drought to put United in front, and less than two minutes later Brighton were reduced to ten men after Lewis Dunk was shown a straight red card. The home side missed a number of chances to extend their lead, before Bruno Fernandes scored with the last kick of the match to seal victory.
The win lifts United up into fourth, but Arsenal and Tottenham both have three games in hand over them while Wolves have two, meaning their position in the Champions League places looks far from secure.
In recent games, Man United have started well before issues have appeared after the break, but their problems were evident right from the start at Old Trafford.
Brighton’s pressing regularly won the ball back in dangerous positions, and Jakub Moder forced David de Gea into a save at his near post in the opening minutes.
Shortly after though, United should have taken the lead. Cristiano Ronaldo played Jadon Sancho in with a lovely backheel, but the winger’s effort was saved as he opted to go for goal rather than square it to Ronaldo or Bruno Fernandes who were free.
Alexis Mac Allister scuffed his effort straight at the goalkeeper in the box, before Pascal Gross should have done better as he also failed to make good contact.
De Gea was forced into a stunning save to deny Moder after a wonderful cross from Joel Veltman, and Yves Bissouma then sent a shot just wide of the far post a minute later as United fell apart at the back with alarming ease. Rangnick’s side would have been delighted to get to the break still level.
A period of 81 seconds early in the second-half completely changed the complexion of the match. Bissouma was caught on the ball and Ronaldo picked it up 30 yards out. The 37-year-old brought it forward, drifted past a couple of challenges and then lashed a wonderful finish into the corner from the edge of the box.
Barely a minute later, Brighton found themselves not only a goal down but a man down. This time it was Dunk who was careless on the ball, allowing Anthony Elanga to nip in and win it. The United forward would have been in on goal but for Dunk’s foul, and while the referee initially only showed the centre-back a yellow card, that was upgraded to a straight red after a VAR review.
Ronaldo nearly doubled the lead for United but Robert Sanchez made a great save to tip his header over the bar, before Fernandes was also denied from six yards out as he somehow failed to finish under no real pressure.
A familiar pattern was starting to emerge of United missing huge chances, as Ronaldo added to the list when sending a free header wide of the post from a few yards out.
The home side were very nearly made to regret that wastefulness with just over ten minutes remaining. Moder found space 25 yards out and sent a stunning curling effort at goal, which beat De Gea but cannoned back off the bar as United were saved by the woodwork.
Danny Welbeck then had a big chance to earn Brighton a point late on, but headed over again his former club.
This time there was to be no sucker punch with Rangnick’s side securing all three points, as Fernandes broke free in the final minute of added time, sat Sanchez down with a lovely dummy and finished into the empty net, allowing the Old Trafford crowd to finally celebrate.
