Sunday People

Tears of joy & super Mooy

- By CHRIS HATHERALL at the Amex Stadium

United, who gave another game to eenage full-back Brandon Williams. He was alert in defence and a constant menace raiding forward on the left lank – and looks a real prospect. He linked up particular­ly well with ashford.

While Fred was the maestro of midfield for United, the controllin­g resence of the match.

Burnley did improve after the break, ut they still struggled to create lear-cut chances.

Dwight Mcneill shot tamely wide rom the edge of the box before they nally had their first shot on target in he 70th minute in a low drive through crowd of players from Bardsley. That forced an excellent diving save rom De Gea. Such moments can prove to be priceless. For all the huff and puff from Burnley, that was as close as they came.

And Rashford finished off a counter-attack to score with the last kick of the game to clinch the win.

WINGER Alireza Jahanbakhs­h broke down in tears after finally breaking his Brighton duck – and now the £17million misfit may be given a chance to stay with the Seagulls.

Iran internatio­nal Jahanbakhs­h cost a club record fee from AZ Alkmaar, but he had gone 18 long months without scoring.

Things got so bad that he was being lined up for a move back to Holland next month.

But now Jahanbakhs­h – overcome with emotion when he fired home a stunning goal after only three minutes – is back in manager Graham Potter’s plans.

Potter said he could understand the player’s reaction after shedding tears.

“He was taken by the moment,” Potter said.

“I think he just wanted things to go so well here, he wanted it to happen so much because he’s made a big move.

“He wanted to score, to affect the game and to help the team. And he hasn’t been able to do so for a long time, so I’m delighted for him.”

Potter is now hoping that Jahanbakhs­h may not have to move in January for regular first-team football.

He added: “You understand when players are not playing that they’ve got a career and they want to get on the pitch.

“But I’ve also said he’s tried really hard and that there’s a role for him here. From my perspectiv­e, I hope he’s here and I’m pretty sure he will be.”

Potter was also delighted with Aaron Mooy, whose classy all-round performanc­e was topped off with a superb individual goal after 79 minutes.

But he stopped short of saying Brighton would consider trying to make the on-loan Huddersfie­ld midfielder’s move permanent in January.

“He’s on loan for us for the season, but he’s Huddersfie­ld’s player and we have to respect that,” said Potter.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it and see if we can do something.

“Obviously, I’m delighted with him.

“He’s a fantastic profession­al, an intelligen­t player and a great person.”

The result moved Brighton well clear of the relegation zone, but struggling Bournemout­h look as if they are in deep trouble.

They went into the game with an injury crisis and ended up with only 10 men on the pitch after both Josh King and Jack Stacey went off with hamstring problems.

Manager Eddie Howe said: “It’s a challenge for us. Apart from the first season, I don’t think we have been in the relegation zone after a number of games – this year is the closest we have been.

“We have to relish that challenge.

“It is probably the most difficult moment we have had in the Premier League, especially when you consider the squad depth we have at the minute.”

Brighton fully deserved their victory from the moment Jahanbakhs­h drilled home from distance, set up by Neal Maupay with only three minutes on the clock.

After the game, the 26-year-old said: “I have been waiting for this for a long time.

“Before the match, I had a great feeling and I’m glad to help us win the game.”

The Cherries went close through King, but were lucky not to go 2-0 down after the break when Dan Burn’s goal was controvers­ially ruled out for a hairline offside decision by VAR.

Aussie star Mooy, who dominated midfield after the break, eventually made sure of the points when he drifted into the area, turned cleverly and steered a shot into the net with 11 minutes to go.

 ??  ?? MART OFF THE MARK Anthony Martial celebrates scoring the opening goal with delighted team-mates
POINTING THE WAY Solskjaer gives directions
SEAGULLS ARE FLYING
MART OFF THE MARK Anthony Martial celebrates scoring the opening goal with delighted team-mates POINTING THE WAY Solskjaer gives directions SEAGULLS ARE FLYING
 ??  ?? Mooy celebrates his goal with fellow Brighton scorer Jahanbakhs­h
Mooy celebrates his goal with fellow Brighton scorer Jahanbakhs­h

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