Paul Hayward, the chief sports writer of the Daily Telegraph, wrote his farewell match report for that paper at the Amex last night, and it is fair to say that great friend of the Albion would probably have preferred the subject to have been a famous home victory than a convincing away win.
But, being the complete professional that he is, Paul gritted his teeth and produced his usual majestic effort, his disappointment at the opening 45 minutes perhaps dispelled somewhat by the signed Albion shirt presented to him at half-time and the good wishes broadcast on the big screen from Graham Potter, Glenn Murray and Paul Barber.
Of the men actually wearing the stripes, he wrote that “Brighton returned with energy and renewed commitment to beat Arsenal at home and take a point off Leicester at the King Power Stadium. The Seagulls sought a win that would have taken them nine points clear of the relegation zone but found United a much tougher proposition. Even with two right-backs Brighton struggled to deal with United’s relentless incursions and the ease with which they moved the ball.
“Brighton needed to change and at half-time Potter brought on Maupay and Leandro Trossard. United were unimpressed, striking again for Fernandes’s second, after Matic had hooked a long ball to Greenwood who raced up Brighton’s right-flank and crossed to the team’s new unofficial leader, who cracked it past Maty Ryan, who was partly blamed for United’s second.
“Trossard, though, made a difference, shooting narrowly wide from the left and connecting well with Connolly, who finally gave David de Gea something to do in the 68th minute, with a long-range hit the United keeper needed to go airborne to keep out.”
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Henry Winter of The Times pointed out that “United are still a work in progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and still need to strengthen, but they are unbeaten in 15 games and have some of their fear factor returning.
“Brighton & Hove Albion were swept away by the visiting tide, Sussex in the sea. Graham Potter had been cautious, but his defences were overrun.
“David De Gea had little to do, but his concentration remained supreme, and he made two athletic saves from Aaron Connolly and Neal Maupay.”
In The Guardian, David Hytner wrote that “for Brighton, the big game of the week is at Norwich on Saturday and, having taken four points from Arsenal and Leicester – more than even their most positive of supporters might have expected, after no wins previously in 2020 – this had felt like a free hit in their battle to put daylight between themselves and the bottom three.
“Graham Potter went for it at half-time, introducing Leandro Trossard for Tariq Lamptey, the right-back who had played at right midfield, and a striker for a midfielder – Neal Maupay for Davy Propper. Brighton got on to the front foot for five minutes or so and then were floored on the break.
“Matic took one touch from a clearing Harry Maguire header before releasing Greenwood, who raced into a crossing position on the left.
"His delivery for Fernandes, who had timed his run, was deep and inviting and the question for the Portuguese was whether he had the technique to execute the right-footed volley. The answer was emphatic. It was only United’s third shot on target. Ruthlessness was a big part of the performance.
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“Brighton were left to play for pride but how they showed it. Trossard went close on two occasions while David de Gea saved smartly from Aaron Connolly and Maupay. The clean sheet came to feel a little fortuitous in the face of Brighton’s rally but it was the 10th of the unbeaten run.”
John Cross of The Mirror was not alone in praising Fernandes, writing that the Portuguese “scored twice and his second goal, United’s third, underlined his quality because it came from a devastating counter attack full of pace and power.
"Brighton were actually pushing forward, United cleared their lines, Matic swept the ball wide to the left for Greenwood who raced away and then put over an inch perfect cross. In raced Fernandes at the back post to volley home past Ryan. It was a beautiful goal, lightning quick and underlined Fernandes’ quality and United’s credentials.
"Brighton did show some fight at the end and created chances to force David de Gea into good saves but it was too little too late.”
Charlie Wyett of The Sun wrote that “United had managed just four wins on their travels this season, putting them tenth in the away league table. But here they looked solid in defence albeit helped by an opposing team which lacked energy.
“For Brighton, this was a nightmare they will look to forget. And in many respects, the game against United was a free pass with Saturday’s lunchtime visit to Norwich more important.
“That is obviously why both Neal Maupay and Aaron Mooy were left on the bench and Brighton went defensively.”
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Sami Mokbel, of the Daily Mail, gave Albion fans a straw to clutch at with United also due to face Bournemouth, Aston Villa and West Ham before the end of the season, “Forget a behind-closed-doors training match, this bore more resemblance to a walk in a park for Manchester United,” he wrote.
“In this mood, they are nailed on for Champions League football. This was absolutely devastating; Brighton had no answer.
“In truth, this performance from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-form team would leave most of their Premier League rivals floored. United's fortunes won't be of any concern to Graham Potter. Staying in the division is the be-all-and-end-all for Brighton.
“An unbeaten start to Project Restart prior to this defeat had inched the Seagulls towards their holy grail.
"They'll have to wait a while longer to reach that magical 40-point mark - but there's no reason for Potter's men to be too despondent on Wednesday morning because United, in this nick, are a match for anybody.”