As Brighton & Hove Albion pumped one high ball after another into Manchester Unitedâs box and an anxious Old Trafford collectively held its breath, Ole Gunnar Solskjaerâs prospects of equalling the best start made by a new manager in the Premier League era briefly felt under threat.
Yet United survived a late siege in a game they should have wrapped up long before Pascal Gross set the cat among the pigeons 18 minutes from time and a relieved Solskjaer was able to toast a sixth successive league win as Unitedâs caretaker manager on the 25th anniversary of Sir Matt Busbyâs death. This is turning into a long, memorable honeymoon.
Only Carlo Ancelotti, with Chelsea in 2009/10, and Pep Guardiola at Manchester City two seasons ago, have managed six wins from their first six league games and Solskjaer will have the opportunity to make the outright best start of the lot by beating Burnley at Old Trafford on Tuesday week. Including the FA Cup win over Reading, it is seven consecutive victories all told. How much further up the table would United be if the clubâs hierarchy had sacked Jose Mourinho a month or two earlier? How many more goals would Marcus Rashford have right now had Solskjaer come on board earlier?
Yes, United were hanging on by the end but this was another centre-forwardâs performance to savour from Rashford. Still only 21, he marked his 150th appearance for the club with a sublime goal after Paul Pogbaâs penalty got United up and running, and Solskjaer is not sure there is a better striker in the top flight at the moment. It is all a far cry from Mourinho venting his frustration on the touchline at Rashford after another miss.
âIâm glad he is in my team,â Solskjaer said. âHarry Kane is injured so maybe that gives Marcus a chance of being the best [striker] at the moment. No one beats him on work rate, no one beats him on attitude and at the moment heâs very confident in front of goal. He doesnât need to think twice about it. Heâs playing the best football of his career.
âThe players have to be proud of the form and momentum theyâre building. Maybe in 10, 15, 20 years I will look back on this but Iâve never bothered about records. But to be part of a team that is winning so much feels great and for the confidence that is building. I think the team spirit kept us away from losing points.â
As frantic a finish as it was, United played some captivating football before then and should have been three or four goals in front as Brighton encountered a very different side to the one they had beaten in their last two outings at the Amex Stadium. Pogba had criticised Unitedâs attitude and hunger after the 3-2 loss at Brighton in August but there was no danger of that here.
From the outset, United were aggressive and urgent, pressing high and taking the game to the visitors. Rashford set the tone. Here is a young lad clearly relishing the opportunity to lead the line and, his goal aside, there was much to admire about his performance. His movement was quick and clever and he can deliver a cross, too. One wonderful, vicious ball across the face of Brightonâs goal in the second half was crying out for Jesse Lingard to steer home at the far post but the forward somehow contrived to side-foot wide from four yards.
âI donât know how Jesse missed,â Solskjaer said, and it was that squandered opportunity, and Anthony Martial also firing another inviting chance wide, that opened the door to Brighton. That was the frustration for Solskjaer because his team were flying. Pogba won and converted the penalty when he brought down Nemanja Maticâs raking diagonal pass, cut inside Gaetan Bong and was tripped. âNo complaintsâ said Brighton manager Chris Hughton.
By now, most will be familiar with Pogbaâs stuttering run up but Solskjaer does not care so long as he scores. âHe scores them so thatâs what matters,â Solskjaer said. âIn front of the Stretford End, why donât you just enjoy it.â Pogba celebrated by pretending to cradle a baby, his girlfriend Maria Salaues having just given birth to their new child.
It was all United when Rashford scored his beauty. Flicking the ball out to Diogo Dalot on the left, Rashford darted forward. Dalot advanced and managed to slip a pass into the England striker, who skipped past Gross with an exquisite shuffle of the feet before curling a shot on unerring pace and accuracy into the far top corner.
Solskjaerâs front-foot approach has liberated Rashford and the other attackers but the transformation in the likes of Matic and Ander Herrera is, in its own way, just as pronounced. That pair provided the platform for United to attack here. Herrera was everywhere, winning timely interceptions, closing down space, Unitedâs best player behind Rashford.
Victor Lindelof, too, is growing in confidence with every game. One stunning ball over the top for Martial drew a fine save from Brighton goalkeeper David Button, but Lindelof should have done better for Brightonâs goal - his only false step all afternoon. Opting to stand off Davy Propper, he invited the Brighton midfielder to cross. Gross showed a calm head to take the ball down on his chest and crash a shot high into the net.
United had been forced to make a few last ditch clearances from crosses throughout the game but Grossâ goal was the cue for Brighton to bombard United aerially and the relief at the final whistle palpable.
âIf the train keeps rolling we will get loads of points on the board and hopefully it will take us up the table but I have to say we need to improve on a few things,â Solskjaer said. âDefensively, we need to find our shapes better, we need to keep the ball better when we are under the cosh and keep it away from them but we are playing some fantastic football.â
That they are.
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