Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes it seven wins from seven as Pogba and Rashford strike
Paul Pogba scored a penalty and Marcus Rashford curled in a smart effort for the home side
FROM six of the best to seventh Heaven – the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer roadshow rolls on.
Paul Pogba’s penalty and an absolute stunner from Marcus Rashford made sure the 25th anniversary of Sir Matt Busby’s death got a fitting finale.
And the manager who did more than anyone to turn this club into the world famous institution it has become would have been proud of the contribution of Rashford above all others, too.
There could have been no more apt star figure, either, given Sir Matt laid the foundations for bringing kids through with his Busby Babes of 60 years ago.
Dominant from the off, albeit hardly being awash with chances, United never looked like losing from the minute Pogba put them in front.
The Frenchman himself had gone closest, with a brilliant overhead kick from nowhere, while Rashford had seen another snapshot beaten away by the fists of keeper David Button.
But when referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot on 27 minutes, there was no way the Seagulls stopper was getting near it.
Just like there was no way Pogba – after finding himself something of a laughing stock for his stop-start, stuttering spot kick run-up in two missed attempts this season – was going to fluff his lines for a third time.
This time it was nine tip-toe steps, then a normal run-up, and the penalty buried right in the corner to put United one up.
Button’s clawing hand denied Anthony Martial a second as he got beyond the backline – but three minutes before the break he was picking the ball from his net again.
And what a second it was, as Rashford left Bong on his backside with the cutest of drag backs with his left heel, before clipping his shot beyond the Brighton keeper.
Pascal Gross gave the Seagulls a lifeline with his third goal in three games against United late on, and it all got a little hairier than it should have for the home side.
Yet in the end they saw it out to keep up Solskjaer’s perfect record – and edge him just that little bit closer to getting the job on a permanent basis.