Masterclass 2 min read

Chris Hughton

Tony Hodson
Chris Hughton
Photography by Jon Enoch
Author
Tony Hodson
Published on
December 7 2021

Premier League, August 19 2018

Brighton 3Manchester United 2

Murray (25)
Duffy (27)
Gross (44 pen)

Lukaku (34)
Pogba (90+5 pen)

It was in August 2018 when Brighton & Hove Albion, then managed by Chris Hughton, hosted Manchester United and José Mourinho in the Premier League. United, who were hoping to again challenge for the title, had won their opening league fixture of 2018/19 on the same weekend that Brighton had already lost.

A victory over United, however, had contributed to them preserving their Premier League status the previous May, and Brighton made an impressively fast start by scoring twice in three first-half minutes. Romelu Lukaku responded for United, before the hosts again restored their two-goal lead. Speaking exclusively to The Coaches’ Voice, Hughton revisits the approach that brought them such success, and eventually a significant 3-2 victory.

Starting line-ups
Brighton & Hove AlbionManchester United
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Brighton & Hove Albion4-4-1-1
Manchester United4-3-3
1Mat Ryan
1David de Gea
22Martin Montoya
18Ashley Young
4Shane Duffy
3Eric Bailly
5Lewis Dunk
2Victor Lindelöf
3Gaëtan Bong
23Luke Shaw
11Anthony Knockaert
17Fred
6Dale Stephens
15Andreas Pereira
24Davy Pröpper
6Paul Pogba
20Solly March
8Juan Mata
13Pascal Gross
11Anthony Martial
17Glenn Murray
9Romelu Lukaku