Brighton look to turn Manchester United fans green and gold
Wembley Way was a pretty depressing place to be after Brighton had lost on penalties to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi final.
The Albion had been the better team over 120 minutes, their fate decided by one miscue from Solly March. And then, to rub salt into the wounds, Seagulls fans had to listen to the arrogance and entitlement of United fans.
“You’ve seen United, now fuck off home,” they sang. A cringeworthy chant at the best of times made a double piss take when Brighton had been bookies’ and pundits’ favourites and outplayed the Red Devils.
Not to mention that the two previous meetings between the clubs had ended with an aggregate score of Brighton 6-1 Manchester United.
Those not aligned to either club who wanted to witness one of the best footballing sides in the Premier League in action would, in fact, have been watching to see the Albion.
There was not a murmur about the Glazers on Wembley Way, either. Very little sign of any Norwich scarves. Funny how United only protest against their owners when they lose; win an FA Cup semi final and it all gets forgotten.
The rest of football cannot have much sympathy for United fans when they are only badly owned in defeat. It is an insult to every other club who have nearly gone out of business, rather than suffering a fifth place finish in the Premier League.
They should try having a chairman who removes the non-profit clause from their articles of association, sells the ground, attempts to pocket the money himself, leaves the club homeless and bankrupt, bottom of the Football League and heading out of business.
It is to this background that Manchester United arrive in Sussex to face Brighton in the Premier League, just 11 days after Wembley.
Revenge is a dish best served cold and however embarrassing that chant may be, it would be wonderful to hear the Amex ramming “You’ve seen the Albion, now fuck off home” back down the throats of the travelling United support.
If come full time, United fans are protesting against the Glazers and have swapped red, white and black for green and gold, Brighton will know they have done their job. And with it, moved a step closer to European qualification.
The Albion will come into the game in good spirits. It cannot be understated what an incredible result the 6-0 win over Wolves at the weekend was for Roberto De Zerbi and his players.
Less than 72 hours earlier, Brighton looked exhausted physically and mentally as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Wembley heartbreak, injuries, fatigue and a thin squad all combined to leave many Albion supporters fearing that the final seven games of an exhausting campaign might prove too much.
De Zerbi responded by making five changes from defeat at the City Ground. Amongst those, Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma were all rested.
Despite being without arguably their three best players, Brighton ran riot. Deniz Undav, Billy Gilmour and Julio Enciso all pressed their claims for further involvement and that leaves De Zerbi with some serious decisions to make.
They say you should not change a winning team, let alone a team who has just racked up the biggest top flight win Albion history.
But surely De Zerbi would not keep Caicedo, Mac Allister and Mitoma on the bench against United? And yet, how can you justify dropping Undav after his brace, Gilmour when he has given a midfield masterclass, or Enciso who was involved in four of the six goals?
Good luck with that dilemma, Roberto. We will all think of you as you ponder what to do whilst we sit in the pub from midday. Who would be a football manager?
Whatever personnel De Zerbi goes with, Erik ten Hag will be wary for a number of reasons. United either face a fully rested Caicedo, Mac Allister and Mitoma, or the same Albion side who ripped through a Wolves outfit known for having a pretty mean defence until they rocked up at the Amex.
Reason two is Brighton will be fuelled by retribution for the misjustice of Wembley and in particular, the fate that befell March.
No player wants to see their teammate miss such an important spot kick. The pain and anguish will have been heighted by March being a popular member of the squad, a homegrown Sussex man who has spent his entire professional career at the Albion and probably Brighton’s Player of the Season.
And then there is United’s poor record at the Amex, reason three. The Seagulls have won three of their five home games against United since winning promotion to the Premier League.
One of United’s two victories should be struck for the records too, when they were somehow awarded a 98th minute penalty after the final whistle to commit daylight robbery via a 3-2 win in 2020.
It would not be a surprise if there was more jiggery-pokery from the officials this evening to help United. VAR seems to love getting involved in controversial decisions in at least one Brighton game a month, but especially when United are the opponents.
Brighton though have shown in the past they can beat the Red Devils, even when their expensively assembled squad receives refereeing aid.
Victory on this occasion would complete a first ever league double over United and be the sweetest of the lot, coming so close after the FA Cup semi final.
You’ve seen the Albion…
