Solskjaer: Rashford is at the top of his game now
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 POGBA (PEN, 29), RASHFORD (42) BRIGHTON 1 GROSS (72)
Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was full of praise for Marcus Rashford after the success over Brighton.
Rashford scored a superb goal to put his side 2-0 up in the Premier League contest at Old Trafford and caused the Seagulls plenty of other problems as United’s perfect start under Solskjaer extended to a seventh game in all competitions.
The 21-year-old England international, who expertly turned away from Pascal Gross before curling a fine shot into the top corner, has netted five times in six league matches following the Norwegian’s appointment in December.
And when he was asked if he thought Rashford was currently the best centreforward in the division, Solskjaer said: “You can argue for many strikers, but I’m glad he’s in my team.
“Harry Kane’s injured so maybe that gives him a better chance to be the best one at the moment.
“No one beats him on work-rate, no one beats him on attitude and at the moment he’s very confident in front of goal. He finishes, he tries to shoot, he doesn’t think twice about it.
“So at the moment I think he’s playing the best football in his career.”
Rashford’s 42nd-minute goal, on his 150th United appearance, came after Paul Pogba had opened the scoring with a penalty he won himself. The midfielder has also scored five times since the Red Devils sacked Jose Mourinho and brought in Solskjaer.
Pogba reprised his stuttering spot-kick run-up and Solskjaer said: “He has scored quite a few goals, so if he’s comfortable with it, as long as the ball goes in the net…
“I wouldn’t have done it that way, but the way he strikes the ball is good enough.”
After Gross pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute, it was a nervy conclusion for the hosts, but they managed to see out the victory as Solskjaer became the first United boss to win his first six league games.
The 45-year-old is the third manager in Premier League history to win their first six matches in charge of a club, after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
“We made it more difficult than it should have been the last 20 minutes, because up until then I thought we played some great stuff at times,” said Solskjaer. “The players have to be proud of the form and momentum they are building. Maybe in 10, 15, 20 years time I’ll look back on things like this. I don’t care whatsoever about records, I’m never bothered about these things. But of course to be part of a team winning so much feels great.”
The hosts started strongly and not even Diogo Dalot’s late inclusion in place of the ill Luke Shaw could throw them off kilter.
Solskjaer’s Reds smelt blood and their fleetfooted attackers attempted to disturb Brighton’s well-organised backline, although Shane Duffy’s header showed they would have to be alert at the other end.
Albion certainly looked like they had the ability to frustrate the hosts and Glenn Murray volleyed wide late in the first half.
But United’s sharpness came through and saw them boast a two-goal cushion at the break. Rashford had seen an effort cleared off the line and another bend just wide by the time United broke the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Pogba, who earlier saw an overhead kick blocked, controlled on the right and burst away from Gaetan Bong, whose attempts to halt the World Cup winner resulted in referee Paul Tierney pointing to the spot.
Groans echoed around Old Trafford as the Frenchman began his now customary stuttered run up, but an unerring finish soon had the United faithful cheering.
David Button produced a superb closerange stop to deny Martial after being found by an equally impressive Victor Lindelof ball from the back, but the Brighton goalkeeper could do little about United’s second.
Three minutes before the break, Rashford collected a return ball from full-back Dalot. He had everything to do, but expertly turned away from Gross and curled a stunning strike into the top corner under pressure.
United pressed on after the break and Rashford tried his luck from a free-kick, before hitting a fine cross that Lingard could not quite get a telling connection on.
Dunk fired into the side-netting as Chris Hughton’s men showed the odd threat, which brought a 72nd-minute goal as Gross controlled a smart cross by Davy Propper and struck past David De Gea.
Pogba struck wide and Rashford got a yellow for a late lunge as United dug deep to hold on.