MASON THE HEAD BOY

Greenwood grabs late winner for Ole after old boy Welbeck gives lacklustre United a scare

MASON GREENWOOD’S heading practice paid off with the late winner that consolidated second spot for Manchester United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were out of sorts for much of this game but dug deep and managed to eke out victory, courtesy of Greenwood’s instinctive 83rd-minute goal.

Brighton will be aggrieved they left Old Trafford with nothing, having outplayed their hosts for much of the contest, but Solskjaer’s men showed the mental resolve needed.

United now have an 11point cushion over fifthplaced Tottenham with eight games left, and a return to the Champions League next season now seems almost guaranteed.

Greenwood, who has struggled for goals this term, has been working on improving his heading and displayed his new-found prowess late on.

Significantly, Dean

Henderson kept his place in goal for United, effectively confirming his status as firstchoice keeper ahead of David De Gea, who was on the bench.

It was Henderson’s seventh successive start after De Gea returned to Spain for the birth of his first child, and the England keeper (above) impressed.

But he was unable to prevent the visitors taking the lead in the 13th minute, when former Reds striker Danny Welbeck scored against his old club. Welbeck got ahead of Aaron Wan-bissaka to meet Neil Maupay’s cross. Henderson produced an instinctive block but was powerless to keep out Welbeck’s follow-up header for his fourth goal of the season. It continued a remarkable run for Welbeck, who has scored every time he has started a Premier League game at Old Trafford since leaving United in 2014 – three starts, three goals.

United could have gone 2-0 down in the 18th minute but for a fine fingertip save from Henderson, who tipped over Lewis Dunk’s header.

While United were sluggish, slow and second best, Brighton played with enterprise, energy and endeavour.

And they were fully