Gross Day For Manchester United As Brighton Secure Opening Day Old Trafford Win

Sunday, 7 August 2022 23:03

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Pascal Gross' first-half double gave Brighton a surprise 2-1 win at Manchester United as Erik ten Hag's reign got off to the worst possible start.

The unmarked Brighton midfielder found himself in the right place, at the right time, to tap the visitors into a 2-0 lead with two goals in nine minutes in the Old Trafford sunshine, as the hosts - with Cristiano Ronaldo starting on the bench - were booed off at half-time by their own fans.

However, Alexis Mac Allister's scrappy own goal midway through the second period, awarded after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee [VAR] check for both handball and offside, briefly breathed new life into the hosts and their supporters.

But United were unable to find an equaliser and as a result, Ten Hag suffered defeat in his first Premier League encounter, while Brighton secured a first-ever win at Old Trafford.

Optimism was high in the stands as United made their way out on to the pitch to begin another season in search of the Premier League title, especially with a new man at the helm, but that lasted all of half an hour.

The Dutchman, who even changed the dugouts at Old Trafford in a bid to bring back the glory days, has spoken of the challenges facing him, but this disjointed performance will have really brought that home to everyone.

The Seagulls cut their opponents open to take the lead as the impressive Leandro Trossard picked out Danny Welbeck's run in the box.

The former Arsenal forward's pull back from the left byline was touched home by an unmarked Gross at the far post to leave Old Trafford stunned.

Credit: Sky Sports.

Worse was to follow six minutes before the interval after another well-worked Brighton goal cut United's defence open.

Moises Caicedo, another to catch the eye, Gross, Adam Lallana and Solly March were all involved, before the latter's low driven cross was only parried by David de Gea straight to that man Gross, who again side-footed into an empty net.

The hosts were back in the game as the previously secure Robert Sanchez flapped at a corner, with Mac Allister then bundling the ball into his own net after a goalmouth scramble.

Credit Sky Sports.

The VAR checked the goal after a possible handball by Diogo Dalot and a potential offside against Harry Maguire, but it stood as United were left with a quarter of the game to turn it around.

However, despite oodles of possession and a fervent home crowd willing them on, the match petered out as Brighton comfortably wound down the clock to leave Ten Hag with much to ponder after just one game at the helm.