Brighton go looking for three in a row at Man United
Brighton travelling to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United used to be a hopeless cause. A game you could write off before kick off.
It was not until August 2022 that the Seagulls won at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time in their history. Glow Up Graham Potter oversaw a 2-1 victory on the opening day of the campaign, sending Erik ten Hag to defeat on his debut in the United dugout.
13 months later and Roberto De Zerbi outdid Potter, as the fiery Italian tended to do in most departments. This time, Brighton beat United 3-1 on their own patch.
Between those two defeats to the Albion, United did not lose a single Premier League home game under Ten Hag. Little Old Brighton have found from somewhere a strange, surreal hold over the biggest and most famous club in the land.
This hold extends beyond Old Trafford, too. Go back to that glorious day at the Amex in May 2022 when Potter delivered a 4-0 win against United and the Albion have an almost flawless record ever since.
Six Premier League meetings. Five Brighton victories. And the one Red Devils success needs an asterisks next to it. United ran out 2-0 winners in Sussex on the final day of last season; a dead rubber for the Albion on a day more about saying goodbye to De Zerbi than the football.
De Zerbi’s departure from the Amex was announced 24 hours before the game. He was given a send off befitting a man who delivered a top six finish, took Brighton to the Europa League round of 16 and was two kicks away from an FA Cup final.
Fabian Hurzeler continued the good work of De Zerbi and Potter against United. A dramatic 2-1 victory over the Red Devils thanks to a last minute Joao Pedro winner ensured The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History got his home reign up and running with a win.
For Seagulls supporters who grew up in the 90s when Sussex schools were 75 percent United fans, this development of Brighton consistently beating United will never get old.
It is made sweeter by many of those ‘United fans’ now being Amex season ticket holders. To see them after the Albion have inflicted another defeat on the Red Devils is to think: “That is for all the shit you gave me in Year 5 when Brighton were 91st out of 92 in the Football League and playing home games at Gillingham.”
Managerial changes have made no difference to the Albion’s new-found ability to win at Old Trafford. So, if not the head coach, what has driven Brighton to dominate this particular fixture?
Four words. Two players. Danny Welbeck. Pascal Gross. Having scored five times against United, Welbeck now holds the record as the ex-Red Devil with the most goals against his former club.
Gross meanwhile seemed to excel in particular when travelling to Old Trafford. He scored both goals in the 2-1 victory and added another on the Albion’s most recent visit.
Der Kaiser will obviously play not part at United this time. Unless Brighton have arranged some sort of emergency loan deal spanning one game with Borussia Dortmund to bring him back and further torment United.
Which would be a nice surprise, but about as likely as Dua Lipa is to knock on my front door tomorrow and propose we get married.
The extent of Welbeck’s participation is also unknown. He has made two cameo appearances from the bench since returning from five weeks out with injury.
Is he fit enough to be thrown in from the start? Does Hurzeler take the risk, knowing Welbeck’s phenomenal record against this particular opponent?
With no Gross and possibly limited Welbeck, it will be up to others to deliver if Brighton are to make it three wins in a row at Old Trafford.
Fingers crossed the curse continues.
