Brighton & Hove Albion secure their Premier League position as they romp up to 40 nights with a deserved win over the utterly lacklustre Manchester United. Jose Mourinho must be tearing his hair out at this Jekyll and Hyde nature of his team, I know I am.
That's all from me, Anirudh Menon. Thank you for reading.
93' Whistles ring around the Amex as United peg Brighton into their own box - there are some 18 people inside that box right now... till Smalling is caught offside. That, should be that.... Mourinho gives Hughton a warm handshake in acknowledgement of their spirt and endeavour
92' Pass, pass, cross, waste the move. Rinse and repeat. Chris Hughton brings on Leonardo Ulloa to allow Glen Murray a standing ovation and eat away at the time left
91' Martial tries to wriggle his past the attentions of three blue & white shirts but he simply can't shrug off their attentions. A smashing Smalling tackle near the half-line allows United to regather and try and break the Brighton rearguard once again...
89' Luke Shaw bombs forward down the left and pings a powerful cross right into the hands of Matt Ryan. United are getting no change whatsoever off the Aussie keeper
86' OH LINGARD! COME ON! A SUPERB CHANCE THAT! Lingard races into the box, feeds Rashford, gets a backheel in return onto his path - and Lingard toe-pokes it well off target. That really ought to have been 1-1
85' Shaw looks to do something different by dribbling past three people and zooming a pass into the middle - but finds nothing but Matt Ryan and his big hands. Ok, I'm not sure he has bigger-than-normal hands... but he's a goalkeeper. Gotto have big hands, neh?
83' Pogba has his best shot of the day from 30 yards, a powerful rasping drive that flies just over the crossbar. Meanwhile, Chris Hughton wants this win; and he takes off Pascal Gross to introduce Berem Kayal and shut the door well and truly on their visitors' faces. Athithi Devo Bhava whaaaat?
81' Martial runs into a cul-de-sac and Brighton look to feed Murray early; but that man Smalling is there to see him off. United, though, are creating little moving forward as this overhit ball to Luke Shaw indicates
80' Brighton win a free-kick, Smalling ensures it comes to nothing by winning a foul off Murray. That individual battle has provided a fascinating subplot to the game tonight
79' Rashford's determination allows him to rob Dunk off the ball near the Brighton corner flag, he feeds it to Mata - who pings one to Martial. The Frenchman chests it down and leathers one into row Z. Another SIX! Or as any of those immensely irritating IPL commentators would have it... a *insert sponsor name* maximum!
78' Only to see Paul Pogba drop his shoulder, turn and shoot the most harmless of shots tamely wide off Ryan's near post. Mourinho's face indicates a very entertaining post-match presser.
77' Knockaert zooms past a Pogba challenge, then another, before Young takes player and ball out with a thunderous challenge. From the Brighton throw in United move forward...
75' WOOOOF!! More intent! Tony Martial skips away form Duffy with the subtlest of feints before unleashing a shot that blazes just over. Mourinho throws on his POTY, Scott McTominay for Marcos Rojo. Don't even ask about the formation now - I presume Matic will drop into central defence
74' Matic intercepts a Gross ball and sets Pogba off on one of his ludicrously brilliant gallops - it's very hard to stop him when he decides it, but he doesn't decide it... tries a weird flick mid-run and gets easily robbed by Knockaert
73' Brighton still look a proper danger on the counter, though. Izquierdo torments Young before looking to tee up Stephens on the edge of the box, but Lingard's back there being a busy bee and he intercepts.
72' WOOF! Marcus Rashford is teed up by Pogba and he lets go - why not - and the powerful shot is well parried away by Matt Ryan. United are playing so, so, much better right now... Mata, Lingard, Pogba and Martial exchange cute passes on the edge of the box before Lingard smacks one of his quick no-backlift shots at goal. Ryan saves this one easily enough
71' Young's ball in looks neat, but is headed out easily... Knockaert then looks to set Murray away; but in a race of the wily veterans the man who's always been faster between the two, Young, wins out and United come again
69' Lingard's first touch is set Martial on his scooter - that's what Mourinho sent him out there for, to reintroduce one-touch football to United - and the Frenchman wins a corner.
Brighton & Hove Albion secure their Premier League position as they romp up to 40 nights with a deserved win over the utterly lacklustre Manchester United. Jose Mourinho must be tearing his hair out at this Jekyll and Hyde nature of his team, I know I am.
That's all from me, Anirudh Menon. Thank you for reading.
Toodle-ooo!