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#3 A thought for Graham Potter
Praising a manager who has failed to win even a third of his side's games in a season could, to some degree, be considered a strange thing to do. However, when the man in question is Graham Potter, this praise is warranted.
Purely in terms of results, Potter's Seagulls have done nothing out of the ordinary so far, with seven wins, 12 defeats, and 11 draws in the league. However, upon closer examination of his side's displays, the English coach's management ability is undeniably worthy of praise.
Brighton were superb on the night and a case could be made for them outshining Manchester United in every phase of play. Building attacks from the back, retaining and recycling possession in midfield, and limiting United's attacking threat were all areas where they impressed profoundly.
But Potter has, on more than a few occasions, been let down by individual errors from his men, much like Neal Maupay's 97th-minute handball in the reverse fixture at the Amex — a game they lost after smashing the cross-bar FIVE times in 90 minutes.
Considering the players and resources in the transfer market available to him, not only has Potter kept them in the division, but has done so by getting them to play bravely. They're far from perfect as they've lost more points from winning positions (20) than any team in the league, but they've left a superb account of themselves at one of the most storied venues in Europe on Sunday.
#2 Mason Greenwood's quiet resurgence
In terms of end product, Mason Greenwood has had a campaign to forget so far. After one of the most impressive breakthrough campaigns by any teenager in Manchester United's history, much was expected of their new #11, but he failed to deliver on numerous occasions so far.
On Sunday, however, he did deliver as he came up with a clutch winner for his side in the final ten minutes of the game. Just moments after moving centrally to take over from Cavani, Greenwood was switched on in the box to get on the end of a scuffed shot from Paul Pogba to score his first headed goal of his Manchester United career to seal the points for his side.
The goal was only his second of the league campaign this season after a Robin van Persie-esque finish away at West Ham in December, and it was a crucial one. More importantly, it has been a long time coming as Greenwood's displays have been getting better with each passing game in 2021, whether he got on the scoresheet or not.
Solskjaer recently praised Greenwood's overall development and Sunday was further evidence of his growth in stature. It was a spirited display from the young Englishman, particularly in the second half, and his predatory finish was a much-needed confidence booster. With Anthony Martial potentially facing the remainder of the campaign on the sidelines due to injury, the stage is set for Greenwood to step up as Manchester United's centre-forward.
#1 The familiar Bruno Fernandes—Marcus Rashford rescue act
Bruno Fernandes might have arrived at Old Trafford just over a year ago, but in that period he's grown into arguably their most important player in quite some time. On Sunday, it was the Portuguese who made the difference once again along with Rashford as the pair broke Brighton hearts in the second half.
Neither had a particularly flashy first half. In fact, they were both poor, with Fernandes lacking his usual composure and Rashford running down blind alleys and into walls of blue shirts. However, one moment in the second half — where Fernandes waited on the ball to release the English forward with great precision — was enough to undo Brighton. Rashford's deadly finish from close range brought United right back into the game.
It's been a familiar story for the Red Devils with these two stars coming to their rescue time and again. Sunday's goal has taken Rashford and Fernandes' combined output this season to 62 (!) goals and assists, making it one of the most productive attacking duos in Europe. The 26-year-old was at the heart of things for the second goal as well as it was his measured ball to find Paul Pogba on the edge of the box that led to Greenwood's well-taken goal.
On a night where Manchester United were far from their scintillating best, Fernandes and Rashford's moments of magic were enough to take them past a defiant Brighton side.
Also read: 5 Transfers that dramatically changed the fortunes of a club
