Skip to Main NavigationSkip to content
Under-21s: Brighton v United
Sunday 26 January 2025 18:00
Manchester United Under-21s won a fourth successive Premier League 2 game, as Sam Mather’s fifth-minute penalty proved decisive in downing Brighton & Hove Albion on the south coast.
The young Reds have enjoyed a week of varied experiences, having triumphed over Aston Villa at Carrington last Saturday before a tough test at Altrincham against Danish outfit FC Nordsjaelland to close out our Premier League International Cup campaign.
This win at Brighton sets Travis Binnion’s team up nicely for our final group-stage fixture in the inaugural National League Cup, to be played at Oldham Athletic on Wednesday 29 January (19:00 GMT). That game will be live on MUTV.
United now have eight wins from our 12 league games so far this season and sit fourth in the Premier League 2 table.
United’s first clear opportunity to go ahead against Brighton was not long in coming. Seagulls midfielder Joe Knight brought down Dan Gore in the box, allowing Mather — recently returned from injury — the opportunity to score from the penalty spot. He did so with composure.
Brighton responded well to the early set-back, with Josh Robertson shooting wide of the right post almost immediately after Mather’s spot-kick.
United, though, enjoyed some long spells of possession and did well to push Brighton back, when they did have the ball, into areas they were uncomfortable in. The coaching staff were particularly pleased with the level of intensity and creativity shown on the counter-attack, even though subsequent first-half attempts from Gore, Moorhouse and Obi were either saved or went wide.
Harry Howell, the PL2 Player of the Month for December, forced a good save from Elyh Harrison with a header shortly before the break, while Ruairi McConville was also denied when he tried to equalise with a close-range headed effort from a corner.
“We knew after we hadn’t converted on the counter-attack in the first half that Brighton would get chances after the break,” reflected United U21s assistant Dave Hughes.
“But everybody was outstanding. I don’t want to single players out because it was collectively a really strong performance in a good, competitive game.
“The lads did brilliantly to achieve that level of performance, in the style that we aim for, dominating possession.
“We had a long journey yesterday, and we’ll have a long trip back this evening.”
Despite the distance travelled, United showed resilience in the second period. Chido Obi had a couple of shots inside the box saved by Killian Cahill, and headed one over the crossbar, before two bookings in quick succession meant Reds centre-back Louis Jackson was sent off in the 89th minute.
Obi struck the post with two minutes of stoppage time remaining, before Curley picked up the loose ball and hit wide, but United’s defence had to be alert in the very final stages, with Habeeb Ogunneye clearing off the line.
“The latter stages of the game showed the resilience we had,” Hughes said.
“We were under pressure and saw it through. That’s a really good learning opportunity, having a man sent off and having to adapt and see it out for the three points.
“I think the lads’ performance was deserving of those three points and we’re looking forward to Oldham Athletic on Wednesday now.”
MATCH DETAILS
United: Harrison; Ogunneye, Fredricson, Jackson, Amass; Kone (McAllister 68), Gore; Sharpe (Scanlon 86), Moorhouse (Curley 68), Mather (Murray 90); Obi.
Substitutes not used: Myles.
Goal: Mather (pen) 5.
Yellow cards: Sharpe, Gore, Amass, Jackson.
Red card: Jackson.
Catch up on the latest Academy coverage:
Sunday 26 January 2025 18:00
Back to Top
