MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester United stretched their perfect run under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to seven wins from as many games in all competitions with a 2-1 home defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday (Jan 19).
The result provisionally lifted United one place up to fifth on 44 points from 23 games, three more than sixth-placed Arsenal who were playing fourth-placed Chelsea in the 1730 GMT fixture.
United stormed into a two-goal lead through Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford in the first half but faded in the second and served up a nervy finish to their fans after Pascal Gross pulled one back for battling Brighton.
Solskjaer, who has rejuvenated United and reinstated the club's trademark attacking brand of football, which was rarely seen under his predecessor Jose Mourinho, praised Rashford after the 21-year old forward produced another impressive performance.
Often subdued in a deeper role during his rare starts under the Portuguese, Rashford has repaid Solskjaer's faith handsomely and scored a brilliant individual goal in his 150th appearance for United on Saturday.
"Marcus Rashford has been top class," United's former striker Solskjaer told Sky Sports after becoming the club's first manager to win his first six Premier League games in charge.
"You start with work rate. He has that, works like no one else, runs channels, holds the ball up. He has now calmed down in front of goal and he's assured and is practising all the time. Now he's confident."
Â
United left back Ashley Young added: "Marcus Rashford is an unbelievable talent. I have said it since he was in the youth team. He has the world ahead of him and can be one of the best in the world."
Pogba opened the scoring with a 27th-minute penalty and Rashford made it 2-0 in the 42nd, beating his marker with dazzling footwork on the left flank before finding the top corner from a tight angle.
Gross reduced the arrears out of the blue in the 72nd minute, drilling in a close-range shot off the underside of the bar after Davy Propper floated in an inch-perfect cross with the outside of his foot.
United, who missed several chances to increase their lead in the opening hour, were forced to hang on in the closing stages and although Solskjaer conceded his team were on the back foot late on, he was delighted with the outcome.
"We should have maybe played the game out better than we did as the last 15 minutes we were under it," he said.
"You can't always play fantasy football. At times we did and it's a great three points.
"I can't complain can I? I am smiling and this is one of these things I will remember for the rest of my life. It's been a roller coaster and it's class to be here."
The Premier League's quest to find a new chief executive to replace Richard Scudamore continues. Reports yesterday claimed that LaLiga president Javier Tebas was under consideration, but LaLiga has issued a firm denial: "We are not aware of this supposed interest. That said, if a competition as
LaLiga 'unaware' of rumours that Tebas is being lined up for
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina insists that his side must set a positive tone for next season by finishing the current campaign with wins over the big teams.
Kent Eriksen Cycles Seatposts
England footballers past and present have paid tribute to 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. In a statement posted on the website of his former club
England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies
Revived Dutch ready for 'big things', Football News & Top
Ronaldo avoids jail but hit by hefty fine for tax fraud in Spain (UPDATED) The court sentences Cristiano Ronaldo to a two-year jail sentence that it immediately reduces to a fine of 365,000 euros
Ronaldo fined €18.8m over tax evasion - BBC News
Arsenal must learn to adopt the right mentality away from home or they will once again miss out of Champions League football. That's the concern of former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell, who won the title with the club back in 1991 and made more than 200 appearances for them.
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is courting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Villareal. The 17-year-old attacker is one of England's best players in his age group and has made four
Callum Hudson-Odoi: Chelsea 'confident' teen sensation will
Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday. Schalke are winless in their last three
Football: 10-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash
Latest reports have hinted that Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi will only find it easy to commit his future at Stamford Bridge if manager Maurizio Sarri leaves the club. It has been confirmed that the young England international does not have a good relationship with the Italian boss.
Sarri backs academy trio to be foundation of Chelsea's future
Mourinho's highs and lows at Manchester United January 25, 2018 20:43 From scooping two major honours to painful losses against bitter rivals, Jose Mourinho's Man United reign has been up and down
Third season syndrome: Mourinho's lows and highs at
Football: Qatari goal machine Ali targets Europe move before 2022 World Cup ABU DHABI (REUTERS) - Almoez Ali brushed off a row about his eligibility to scoop an Asian Cup winner's medal and smash a 23-year-old scoring record on Friday (Feb 1), confirming that Qatar have a potential star in the making for when they host the 2022 World Cup.
March 30 (Reuters) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrated his first game as permanent Manchester United manager with a 2-1 Premier League win over Watford at Old Trafford on Saturday. It was a far from
Rashford and Martial give United win over Watford
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/190330/Rashford_and_Martial_give_United_win_over_Watford
It was the ninth goal during Solskjaer's reign for Rashford, who has blossomed in the last three months, and has replaced Romelu Lukaku as United's main man up front. Foster, once of United, has been Watford's best player this season, and he underlined why with a brilliant instinctive save to deny Martial from close range as United threatened
Man Utd - Watford 2-1 Rashford & Martial goals give Ole win
#Real Madrid #Paris Saint-Germain #Neymar father #PSG extension more likely #Ream Madrid switch # India football: इगोर स्टिमैक ने
Neymar PSG extension more likely than Madrid switch: Father
Mourinho concedes Man United incapable of living with Liverpool (From left) Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shaqiri celebrate to pile the misery on Jose Mourinho
Mourinho concedes Man Utd incapable of living with Liverpool
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League bid bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
0 comments:
Post a Comment