Brighton 1-0 Man Utd: Player ratings as late Mac Allister penalty downs Red Devils
From the AMEX Stadium - A last-gasp penalty from Alexis Mac Allister saw Brighton snatch a Premier League win against Manchester United on Thursday night.
Referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot for a handball against Luke Shaw on consultation with the VAR official and Mac Allister sent David de Gea the wrong way to move the Seagulls above Tottenham and into sixth place.
Brighton stopper Jason Steele made a number of sharp saves to keep his side level as the hosts denied United a win that would have sent them into third above Newcastle.
Changes were rung by both managers, with Brighton sticking midfielder Moises Caicedo in at right-back up against Marcus Rashford.
Antony wasted the game's first chance when played in by Bruno Fernandes, lashing beyond the far post before Brighton scuppered a huge chance of their own.
Victor Lindelof's sloppy pass presented possession to Kaoru Mitoma in the box, but he cannoned his shot off the head of De Gea, resulting in some checks on the Spanish goalkeeper. Mitoma then ran at Aaron Wan-Bissaka and dribbled a shot past the far post.
A lull and some pretty but ineffectual play followed before United went close, Casemiro leaping at the back stick but placing his header over the top of the bar. Rashford breezed past makeshift right back Caicedo shortly after, forcing a save out of Steele at the near post.
Brighton offered starts to Facundo Buonanotte and Julio Enciso and it was the latter who nearly broke through as his fizzed drive whizzed past the post.
Anthony Martial was soon played into a similar position as Rashford earlier but greeted with a near identical save from Steele, who kicked the Frenchman's shot to safety.
United broke beyond Brighton's back line on enough occasions to find an opener but the cold edge of a class number nine was missing up front as the hosts ended the first half with some pressure that ended with no payoff.
Brighton wasted a few promising scenarios at the start of the second half, with Wan-Bissaka doing enough to force errors out of Mitoma in their one-v-one duels, whether that be shooting wide of the side-netting or forcing him to pass.
Antony, just booked kicking Alexis Mac Allister's knee, provided another near miss for a game full of them, shooting just over the bar with a half volley from outside the box.
The game struggled for the fluency it boasted in the first half, with a number of poor referee decisions angering the home and away support alike. While there were flashpoints of aggression, neither side proved clinical enough to claim all three points.
The draw leaves Brighton in eighth with 53 points, though they still have six games to play where their immediate rivals have four. Man Utd, meanwhile, are fourth, a point behind Newcastle and five ahead of Liverpool.
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Brighton player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Jason Steele - 8/10 - Forced into action by Rashford and Martial and made some important saves.
RB: Moises Caicedo - 7/10 - Shunted in at right back with no Pascal Gross or Joel Veltman. Lost Rashford on occasion but did his usual midfield work out wide instead.
CB: Adam Webster - 8/10 - Nice and silky on the ball, offering angles to receive and build Brighton attacks.
CB: Lewis Dunk - 7/10 - A little nervy on occasion and got booked for an altercation with Antony, but otherwise held United at an arm's length.
LB: Pervis Estupinan - 7/10 - Created three chances out wide and didn't give Antony much to work with.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 9/10 - Dropped deeper and held off some dangerous Man Utd attacks by being ice cool in possession. Late winner capped off a masterful display.
CM: Billy Gilmour - 7/10 - Starting to look more assured and in control. Hooked as Brighton chased a win.
RW: Facundo Buonanotte - 5/10 - Not as eye-catching as his teammates and came off after an hour having taken a blow to the face.
AM: Julio Enciso - 6/10 - Pulled out some nice half-turns to get Brighton moving but couldn't offer much more.
LW: Kaoru Mitoma - 6/10 - Enjoyed another entertaining running battle with Wan-Bissaka. Might have scored in the first five minutes. Just couldn't find the final ball or shot.
ST: Danny Welbeck - 5/10 - Touch deserted him on occasion. Not to be on Thursday night after his starring role against Wolves.
Substitutes
Solly March (63' for Buonanotte) - 6/10
Levi Colwill (75' for Gilmour) - 5/10
Deniz Undav (75' for Welbeck) - 6/10
Manager
Roberto De Zerbi - 7/10 - Made some interesting calls but still got smart, attacking football from his side. Late winner was the perfect tonic.
Manchester United player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: David de Gea - 7/10 - Bailed out Lindelof and got a bang on the head for his troubles. Not as worked as Steele in the opposite goal.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7/10 - Gave it everything in his duel with Mitoma. Sometimes came out on and top and sometimes not, but did enough to stop him being decisive.
CB: Victor Lindelof - 6/10 - Almost gave Brighton an opener in the first five minutes. Improved somewhat but did look a notable weak link.
CB: Luke Shaw -7 /10 - A little clumsy when bringing the ball out but his balance and pace helped him out against the elusive Brighton forward line
LB: Diogo Dalot - 6/10 - Couldn't offer much attacking threat but limited Buonanotte's involvement. Picked up a booking.
CM: Casemiro - 7/10 - Booked for a wild lunge in the middle of the park. Might have been dismissed for a challenge too many on another day, but got away with it to United's gain.
CM: Fred - 4/10 - Fired misplaced passes all over the shop and didn't offer much calm on the ball. Not good.
RW: Antony - 5/10 - Sent the game's first chance wide when he should have hit the target. Lucky not to be sent off for booting Mac Allister and wasted another chance late on.
AM: Bruno Fernandes - 6/10 - Pinged a couple of dangerous passes into the box and over the top. Seemed to let the crowd get to him.
LW: Marcus Rashford - 7/10 - Managed to evade Caicedo and get in behind Brighton's defence but was thwarted early on. United's most threatening outlet.
ST: Anthony Martial - 4/10 - Looks to have lost that extra yard and zip that made him dangerous in his heyday.
Substitutes
Marcel Sabitzer (76' for Fred) - 6/10
Jadon Sancho (76' for Antony) - 6/10
Wout Weghorst (84' for Martial) - N/A
Manager
Erik ten Hag - 6/10 - A little hamstrung by fatigue at this point in the season. His side made chances and didn't take them. Needs a big response next time out.