MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester United stretched their perfect run under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to seven wins from as many games in all competitions with a 2-1 home defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday (Jan 19).
The result provisionally lifted United one place up to fifth on 44 points from 23 games, three more than sixth-placed Arsenal who were playing fourth-placed Chelsea in the 1730 GMT fixture.
United stormed into a two-goal lead through Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford in the first half but faded in the second and served up a nervy finish to their fans after Pascal Gross pulled one back for battling Brighton.
Solskjaer, who has rejuvenated United and reinstated the club's trademark attacking brand of football, which was rarely seen under his predecessor Jose Mourinho, praised Rashford after the 21-year old forward produced another impressive performance.
Often subdued in a deeper role during his rare starts under the Portuguese, Rashford has repaid Solskjaer's faith handsomely and scored a brilliant individual goal in his 150th appearance for United on Saturday.
"Marcus Rashford has been top class," United's former striker Solskjaer told Sky Sports after becoming the club's first manager to win his first six Premier League games in charge.
"You start with work rate. He has that, works like no one else, runs channels, holds the ball up. He has now calmed down in front of goal and he's assured and is practising all the time. Now he's confident."
Â
United left back Ashley Young added: "Marcus Rashford is an unbelievable talent. I have said it since he was in the youth team. He has the world ahead of him and can be one of the best in the world."
Pogba opened the scoring with a 27th-minute penalty and Rashford made it 2-0 in the 42nd, beating his marker with dazzling footwork on the left flank before finding the top corner from a tight angle.
Gross reduced the arrears out of the blue in the 72nd minute, drilling in a close-range shot off the underside of the bar after Davy Propper floated in an inch-perfect cross with the outside of his foot.
United, who missed several chances to increase their lead in the opening hour, were forced to hang on in the closing stages and although Solskjaer conceded his team were on the back foot late on, he was delighted with the outcome.
"We should have maybe played the game out better than we did as the last 15 minutes we were under it," he said.
"You can't always play fantasy football. At times we did and it's a great three points.
"I can't complain can I? I am smiling and this is one of these things I will remember for the rest of my life. It's been a roller coaster and it's class to be here."
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - February 3, 2019 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts Action Images via Reut
Football: Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in
China aims to become football superpower 'by 2050' The men's football team should become one of the best in Asia, while the female football team should be ranked as a world-class team, by 2030
Football: World Cup 2022 or bust for Lippi on China return
And coach B. Sathianathan hoped that the fans show up in force for their semi-final match against Myanmar. "I want to hear it from the Malaysian fans," said Sathianathan at the pre-match conference at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday. "It was sad when the national team played against Chelsea recently.
Special Edition - Slidelegend.com
Spain court acquits former Barcelona president of money laundering Rosell, his wife and four others, were accused of "large-scale money laundering" of close to 20 million euros ($23 million) since 2006, relating to television rights and sponsorship deals in Brazil.
Spain court acquits former FC Barcelona president of money
LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - AFC Wimbledon delivered an FA Cup fourth-round shock as the League One strugglers humbled Premier League West Ham United 4-2 in a gripping tie in south-west London on
Football: AFC Wimbledon humble West Ham in FA Cup shock
VAR drama mars Juve's historic win, Football News & Top
United Spurs Juve And Inter Ready To Heat Up Icc Singapore. Singapore Spurs Tottenhamhotspur. Manchester United Supporters Club Singapore The Official.
Spurs, Man United, Juventus and Inter heading to Singapore
Football: Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky FA Cup trip to Newport MANCHESTER, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
Guardiola expects Man City to suffer in tricky trip to Newport
Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona have added to the growing calls for the search for Emiliano Sala to be resumed, with the family of the missing Cardiff City striker hiring a private company to
Messi calls to resume search for missing Cardiff City player Sala
Fans are invited to watch the Champions League final on the giant screen at Space by M&S Bank Arena, The Auditorium Liverpool and the convention centre, on Saturday June 1. The screening, which is in association with BT Sport, the exclusive live broadcaster of the competition in the UK, will show
Champions League Final 2019 Live Screening - safra.sg
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
Massimiliano Allegri feels he will leave Juventus with the potential to go on and win the Champions League after it was announced he would step down as head coach at the end of the season. The 51
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri to leave Serie A
'Happy' Morata slays Malta, Football News & Top Stories - The
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen