Brighton hit lacklustre Man United for four

Brighton & Hove Albion trounced Manchester United 4-0 in the Premier League yesterday, as Ralf Rangnick's side suffered a fifth straight away defeat with another woeful defensive display.

Moises Caicedo netted his first goal in a Brighton shirt in the 15th minute when he took advantage of the ball ricocheting off Alex Telles to tuck a low drive inside the post from outside of the box. Marc Cucurella made it 2-0 after the break, firing into the roof of the net from close range.

Pascal Gross then steered a shot past David de Gea before Leandro Trossard added the fourth when Diogo Dalot’s clearance bounced off his chest and into the United goal. The hosts continued to pick holes in the United defence and piled on the pressure, but could not add to their tally.

United attempted to fight back but a strong goalkeeping performance from Robert Sanchez kept them out. United have now conceded 56 goals in the Premier League this season, their worst defensive record in a single campaign in the competition.

The result means it is now mathematically impossible for sixth-placed United to qualify for the Champions League, as they sit five points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal with one game left to play. Brighton are ninth, five points off a Europa Conference League spot with two remaining matches.

Earlier in the day, Conor Coady struck deep into time added on to snatch a 2-2 draw for Wolverhampton Wanderers away at Chelsea in the Premier League yesterday, as the Londoners’ prospective new owners looked on from the Stamford Bridge stands.

Coady headed home a cross from substitute Chiquinho in almost the last action of the game. Wolves had trailed for much of the game after Chelsea’s out-of-form striker Romelu Lukaku scored twice in two secondhalf minutes. Lukaku, who had not scored in the league since December, claimed his first from the penalty spot in the 56th minute after a lengthy VAR check concluded he had been fouled by Romain Saiss just inside the area. He put his second away with a fine strike from 20m after being put through by Christian Pulisic.

But Wolves snatched a goal back in the 79th minute through substitute Francisco Trincao and then upped the pressure, giving Chelsea a nervous finish.

Watford were relegated from the Premier League yesterday after a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace as Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty soured former manager Roy Hodgson’s return to Selhurst Park.

Palace were awarded a penalty following a VAR check for a handball by Hassane Kamara and Zaha stepped up to slot home his 13th goal of the season after sending Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster the wrong way.

Full results: Brentford 3 Southampton 0; Burnley 1 Aston Villa 3; Chelsea 2 Wolves 2; Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0; Brighton 4 Man United 0 Reuters