What a win. What a performance, from Chris Hughton’s men. And Chris Hughton’s men it was, too. Chris Hughton’s trusted line up – ignoring the siren calls for the exotic new signings, or fancy new formations, off the back of a hugely disappointing opener at Watford. This is Chris’ team, and he has more faith in them than a lot of our fans. And how, oh how, they paid him back for it.
Right from the kick off the Albion showed intent to take this game to their Galactico opponents – harrying anyone in a red shirt who had the temerity to dare have possession of the ball. Hunting in packs – close the man – force a hurried pass – don’t let the next man take a touch – harry – hurry – tackle – we’ll have that, cheers. Brilliant to see, and the fans responded to it, in great voice.
Dale Stephens and (super) Davy Prӧpper giving absolutely no time to their opponents, breaking up any fluency United tried to gain. And not just those two – Pascal Groß and Glenn Murray defending from the front, Solly March (has he been in the gym?) joining in, and most especially Anthony Knockaert – an absolute terrier on the day. Fantastic stuff.
A set-back early on though – skipper Lewis Dunk turning his ankle in the process of miscontrolling and gifting the ball to Pogba. The ball was fed to Lukaku who dragged wide wastefully. Dunk tried to play on, but limped off shortly after. Time for Leon Balogun to step up and show us what he’s got. And we were not to be disappointed – what a debut from the young man. Strong, calm and quick across the ground, he proved a more than able partner to big Shane Duffy – himself turning in an absolute beast of a performance.
The entire back four deserve plaudits, in truth. Marmite man Gaeten Bong reclaimed his shirt from Bernardo and put in a great shift, whilst we saw an incredibly assured debut on the right from Martin Montoya – looking every inch the top level player that he is. Decent career path, Montoya – Barcelona – Inter Milan – Valencia – the Albion…
25 minutes in, a deserved breakthrough. And what a quality goal it was, too. Prӧpper spread the ball wide to Bong, who rolled the ball into the path of March on the overlap. March delivered a perfect low cross – to which Glenn Murray applied the most exquisite of finishing touches – lifting the ball deftly over David De Gea with the outside of his boot. Absolute class.
The Amex in raptures, and barely settling back into their seats, still serenading Murray, when he was right back in the thick of it – harrying the hapless Eric Bailly into conceding a completely needless corner – all part of the proper schooling that the former Rochdale man handed out to United’s £65m centre-back pairing.
When Groß’ set piece was shanked back to him across his own goal by Pogba, the number 13 took a touch, and rolled into the path of Knockaert on the penalty spot. His mis-hit shot reached Duffy, who swivelled to slot home in the bottom corner, as calm as you like.
An explosion of joy. Dreamland. Scenes. Another bundle. Poor Maty Ryan can hardly have caught his breath from one 100yard sprint, when he’s off on another.
Lukaku’s close range header, from a recycled ball after a corner, was no more than a minor irritation. No panic from the Albion – the expected onslaught from those in red simply never came, and the home side went back about their business.
If those in the stands could be forgiven for longing for the whistle, with a one goal lead intact, the team were having none of it. United’s new Brazilian midfielder Fred, dared take a second touch to bring down a ball fired into him by De Gea – and Stephens pounced – stealing the ball, and driving forward. Ignoring Murray, open down the channel, Stephens threaded a perfect pass into the path of Groß arriving in the box. The German’s first touch showed too much of the ball to (we’ve already established that he is ‘hapless’, right?) Bailly, who thought he could slide in and reach it. He was mistaken, and gave referee Mr Friend one of his easier decisions of the afternoon.
Hearts in mouths for a split second, as De Gea got a big knee to the spot kick, but Pascal did the business, and restored a well-deserved two goal cushion.
As the Amex buzzed happily though the interval, Mourinho played a couple of his cards – replacing the ineffectual Mata, and anonymous Pereira, with more pace, in the form of Rashford and Lingard.
Lingard, in particular, was busy, but there was no change to the pattern of the game – Duffy and Balogun in control of a lonely Lukaku / Stephens and Prӧpper bullying Fred, while Pogba attempted an occasional Hollywood ball / Murray beating Victor Lindelof to every high ball.
As Chris Hughton took every opportunity to advocate calm, his opposite number cut an increasingly exasperated figure. Amongst a plethora of great coverage in all of this morning’s papers (and yes, I stood in Waitrose and read every one) I doff my cap to Ian Ladyman’s turn of phrase: “In the stands the Seagulls soared. On the touchline, Mourinho clapped his hands and called out, with all the conviction of a man watching his dog disappear down Brighton beach”
As the minutes began to tick by, the formerly-Special One played his final card – throwing on Fellaini to add height and bite, to a side losing every physical battle. The abrasive Belgian did his job pretty well – protecting the ball, and finally dragging his side higher up the pitch.
There might have been a sting in this happiest of tales, but for a moment of heroics from little Maty Ryan – flying to his right to palm away a rasping 25-yarder from Pogba. 15 minutes with just a single goal lead would have been a lot more nervy than this indeed played out.
With three of a surprisingly skinny four added minutes lapsed, Fellaini won a penalty – anticipating Duffy’s lunge and ensuring contact. Pogba slammed it home, high into the net, but there was no United celebration – the game was up, and honestly, 3-2 flattered them.
Mr Friend called time, on a third successive home league win over these vaunted opponents (the first was in 1982, to be fair…) and the Amex released a roar of delight. Mourinho shook hands with the Albion coaching staff with a face like thunder, as his players trudged to the away end to offer thanks and apologies to a sea of empty seats. The Albion players took their leave of the pitch, to huge ovations, and a final, triumphant rendition of Sussex by the Sea.
The 2018/2019 season has officially started. Brilliant.
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