THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN FOR BUSBY-BEATING OLE
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER paid tribute to Sir Matt Busby in a way the great man himself would have savoured.
On a day when the Old Trafford fans remembered the father of Manchester United on the
25th anniversary of his death, Solskjaer’s side did their new boss proud by giving him his sixth successive Premier League victory.
It beat the club-record five consecutive league wins that Busby racked up at the start of his own glorious reign in 1946.
It also equalled the Premier League record set by a new manager held by Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.
And it was fitting, too, that United’s two goalscorers came through the same youth system that Sir Matt himself built his legend on.
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford produced two moments of first-half magic to keep the feel-good factor coursing around the Theatre of Dreams.
But the home side had to dig deep to repel a Brighton side that piled on the pressure in the last 18 minutes after Pascal Gross had reduced the deficit.
Solskjaer has now won seven games on the bounce in all competitions.
But he insisted: “I have never been bothered about records.
“Maybe in 10 or 20 years I will look back on this with some pride, but just being part of a team that is winning like this just feels great.
“The players have to be proud of their form and momentum. Seven games on the bounce, all wins, creates such confidence.
“We made it more difficult than it should have been in the last 20 minutes.
“We played some great stuff up to then and should have scored two or three more goals.
“But every game gives you different challenges and Brighton are a physical side who get crosses into the box.
“We have things to improve – like our shape defensively and defending better with the ball. “But I think it was the team spirit that stopped us losing points.”
United took their time to get up to speed.
Rashford had a goal-bound shot headed away by Shane Duffy and only a deflection off Lewis Dunk prevented Pogba (below) scoring with an overhead kick.
But United went ahead in the 27th minute when Pogba produced an exquisite first touch to both kill Nemanja Matic’s raking pass and cut past Gaetan Bong before being halted by the desperate full-back’s clumsy barge in the back.
Referee Paul Tierney was perfectly placed to award the penalty.
And Pogba sent his spot-kick high above
David Button’s left hand before showing his delight at becoming a father for the first time by breaking into a rockthe-baby celebration in front of the Stretford End.
Only a fine sprawling save by Button prevented Anthony Martial doubling United’s lead before Rashford scored a brilliant second in the 42nd minute.
The England forward collected Diogo Dalot’s short pass before using his twinkling feet to dazzle Gross and flick a glorious curling shot into the top corner.
It was his fifth goal in seven games since Solskjaer took over and was the perfect way to mark his 150th United appearance.
Victor Lindelof, another player reborn under the new boss, was outstanding in the closing stages as Chris Hughton’s men piled forward emboldened by Gross’ goal. Hughton said: “My players deserve credit for the way they came back in the end, but we probably lacked enough quality to get back in the game.”
Man United 2 Brighton 1 Simon Mullock