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John Walton

As it happened: Brighton v Man United, Premier League

Brighton took on Man United, with the Red Devils hoping to consolidate their grip on second place.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick off for the game is at 8pm.

Confirmation of tonight’s teams

We’re under way…

Good start from Rashford.

He nutmegs Shane Duffy, before the defender fouls him just outside the box.

Rashford’s subsequent powerful cross-shot free kick is tapped home by Fellaini, but the Belgium international is correctly ruled offside.

Brighton are on the attack now.

Stephens ultimately drags a shot wide from distance.

Brighton continue to threaten.

Gross has just tested De Gea with a shot from the edge of the area.

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Premier League - AMEX Stadium Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho (left) and Steve Sidwell (right) prior to the match. John Walton John Walton

Murray has just produced a spectacular attempt from distance that De Gea has to be alert to keep out.

More promising signs for Brighton, while United have looked a little off the pace so far.

Slightly better from United in recent minutes.

Rashford has had a shock blocked, while a Pogba attempt has gone off target.

Izquierdo forces De Gea into another good save, as the goalkeeper tips over.

Moments latter, Duffy heads just wide from a corner.

Pogba tries to pick out the onrushing Rashford but his pass is poor.

United have been very wasteful so far.

After Fellaini gives the ball away, the hosts attack and Gross fails to beat De Gea from a tight angle.

Brighton have been comfortably the better team so far.

Knockaert goes on a mazy run, before he plays it through to Murray, who is offside.

United continue to look off the pace.

HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON 0-0 MAN UNITED

0-0 at the break and United — apart from De Gea — have been poor.

Brighton, despite not scoring, will take great encouragement from that first-half performance.

The second half has begun…

Murray gets booked for a scissors tackle on Fellaini.

The Brighton player can have no arguments there.

Ryan does well to save a Pogba snapshot.

The France international has been pretty awful so far, but it’s good to see him still trying to be positive in his play.

Knockaert, who has looked very lively, bursts forward with the ball before his shot is deflected over

Brighton are still looking the more likely of the two sides to score.

BRIGHTON 1-0 MAN UNITED (GROSS 57)

Brighton take a deserved lead.

Izquierdo does really well down the left. His cross finds Gross, whose header appears to be cleared off the line by Rojo, but the goal system rules that it crossed the line.

Knockaert shows brilliant skill to escape his man.

He subsequently goes down under a Martial challenge in the box, but the referee waves play on.

Knockaert has been brilliant tonight. He shows brilliant skill to elude a Rojo challenge.

Moments later, Izquierdo fires just wide from the edge of the area.

Gross is booked for taking down Mata on the edge of the area.

The Spaniard subsequently curls the free kick over.

United make a double change.

Shaw and Lingard replace Darmian and Fellaini.

It means Ashley Young will switch to right-back.

It turns out Fellaini got a knock, which is why he came off.

Brighton are 20 minutes from Premier League safety.

United have upped the pressure in recent minutes.

Rashford and Lingard have both tested Ryan with shots from distance.

Another decent attempt, as Martial curls a shot narrowly off target.

United make another change, with McTominay replacing Rojo.

Pogba tries a shot from distance, but it’s a weak effort and it goes harmlessly wide.

The France international has been poor tonight.

Brighton make a change. Kayal is on in place of the goalscorer, Gross.

Five minutes of normal time remain.

As underwhelming as United have been, Brighton have played superbly.

They have been very well organised and restricted the visitors largely to pot shots.

As I type though, Lingard goes through, but a Duffy challenge puts him off and he shoots wide.

Brighton make another change, as Izquierdo is replaced by March.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time…

Young crosses and Martial heads it wide.

Brighton make a final change, as Murray — who has ran his heart out up front — is replaced by Ulloa.

Duffy heads the ball away from danger to loud cheers.

The Ireland international has been a rock at the back, as has been the case all season.

FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON 1-0 MAN UNITED

Right, that’s all from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

You can read our match report here.

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