Manchester United 4 Albion 2: Danny Welbeck and Babis Kostoulas score late on but Seagulls suffer first defeat in six
Albion suffered an evening to forget at Old Trafford – despite a superb late fightback that moved them to within sight of a point.
Fabian Hurzeler’s men had fallen three goals behind after little more than an hour.
But two goals in the final 16 minutes raised hopes that the visitors might snatch a point.
Danny Welbeck’s magnificent free-kick was followed by a header from substitute Charalampos Kostoulas as the clock ticked into overtime.
At this stage, there was still five minutes to play but despite Albion’s frantic efforts, Bryan Mbuemo added a fourth with the last kick of the game to finally settle matters.
It was an eventful evening in Manchester that started with Albion enjoying the best chance of the opening quarter.
Danny Welbeck made it 3-1 with this free-kick in the second half. 📷James Boardman
Georginio Rutter broke clear down the left, leaving Casemiro in his wake before pulling the ball back to Welbeck. The former Manchester United man fired off a left-foot shot from 12 yards out that home keeper Senne Lammens saved.
But the forward appeared to be caught after the ball had gone by Bruno Fernandes.
Certainly Fabian Hurzeler felt it was worthy of closer inspection. However, his appeals to the fourth official went unheeded.
Neither team had established any foothold. But all that changed after 24 minutes.
Albion wasted a chance to clear their lines and Casemiro’s short pass found Fernandes who helped it on to Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian found the bottom corner of the net with a curling right foot effort.
Albion were struggling for fluency and fell further behind ten minutes later.
It’s unconventional but Jan Paul van Hecke brings the ball under control. 📷James Boardman.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s pass to Rutter was intercepted by Luke Shaw. The ball broke into midfield and was picked up by Casemiro.
The Brazilian strode forward and, although his shot lacked power, it took a deflection off Yasin Ayari and rolled into the net.
A goal before the interval might have set nerves jangling inside Old Trafford.
Maxim de Cuyper’s shot into the turf bounced up for Rutter who found himself alone, unmarked, at the far post. But the forward missed the ball completely and the chance was lost.
Bart Verbruggen pulled off a save from Fernandes three minutes after the re-start after the Portuguese wriggled free inside the area.
Yankuba Minteh went close with this first-half opportunity. 📷James Boardman
Hurzeler made three changes on the hour in an attempt to elicit a positive response.
Tommy Watson took his bow in the Premier League as Diego Gomez and James Milner were asked to spark a revival.
But the trio had not been on the pitch for more than 60 seconds when the hosts added their third.
It came after Shaw was very fortunate not to be pulled back for grabbing Rutter’s shirt in the build-up.
The ball was switched quickly to Mbuemo who cut inside onto his left foot and fired the third through the legs of Lewis Dunk.
Watson, however, made his presence felt two minutes later, threading a pass into the path of Yankuba Minteh.
Tommy Watson was a threat when he came on to make his Premier League debut. 📷 James Boardman.
The striker outpaced Leny Yoro but the second of his two touches was heading into the hands of Lammens before he was clipped.
Referee Anthony Taylor cautioned the defender and awarded a free-kick which Welbeck expertly lifted over the wall and into the net.
Ferdi Kadioglu tested Lammens again as the visitors pushed until the final whistle.
They gave themselves a lifeline when Kostoulas found the net for his first Albion goal from Milner’s corner only for Mbeumo to have the final word.
Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer (Tzimas 87), Dunk, van Hecke, De Cuyper (Watson 59), Baleba (Milner 59), Ayari (Gomez 60), Minteh, Kadioglu, Rutter (Kostoulas 79), Welbeck.
Subs not used: Boscagli, Coppola, Oriola, Steele.
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