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Thank you for joining me!
Well it was a nice evening for all involved and none of us were there to freeze.
I look forward to seeing you all again soon (probably next week).
Full-time: Manchester United 2-0 Brighton
United bounce back from their Champions League disappointment by earning a place in the FA Cup semi-finals thanks to a relatively routine win over Brighton at Old Trafford. Matic created one and scored one, as he lofted the ball onto Lukaku’s head in the first half before notching his own after the break. Brighton had their chances but were not clinical enough at anytime.
90+3 min: The United fans are chanting the name of their manager which is a change from Tuesday night. Not been a classic game but no one can complain about an FA Cup semi-final.
89 min: The stands are clearing the fans who attended wander off to get to their nice, warm homes and how can blame them? Very much a professional performance on this occasion from United even if it was not spectacular.
A good day for Matic.
2 - Nemanja Matic has both scored and assisted in a game for the first time since August 2014 for Chelsea against Everton. Collectors.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
87 min: Young falls awkwardly and goes down injured. Looks like an ankle problem as he gets treated, hopefully it will not rule him out of the England squad.
86 min: Brighton send a corner into the box but it does not beat the first man who was Young, though he sends it out for another corner. Gross whips another in, which is more dangerous but is cleared.
Henry has asked the big question.
He asks: “Is it Albariño or Ribiero? Went to a lovely Galician restaurant and had a bottle of the above and King Prawns in garlic. Magic!!”
It is actually Txakoli, which is a lightly spritzed wine from the Basque Country. Some different.
Goal! Ashley Young swings a free-kick to the back post where most of the United team are waiting to head it in but Matic is the man that gets there first and calmly directs it home.
Goal! Manchester United 2-0 Brighton (Matic, 83)
Game over!
82 min: Dunk gets himself in the box and sends a ball into the box for Murray but the striker just cannot get an effort on goal. Could be a bit more progressive work from Brighton in the final minutes. Oh...and United have not attempted a shot in the second half, which is not a great stat for them.
81 min: Less than 10 minutes left now. Will we see another goal? United are putting a little pressure on without creating a chance.
Rob has emailed in a genuine question and an even more serious concern.
He says: “Can this game go to extra time? I’m currently in a pub celebrating a surprise engagement and there’s a group of rabid white wine drinkers wondering about ordering a ‘final’ bottle...”
It can go to extra-time, Rob. Surely there is plentiful white wine. It sounds like a lovely party, I wish I was invited. Send my regards to the happy couple.
77 min: Great World Cup hope Glenn Murray is on to prove he is better than Rashford now. He missed out on a place in the the latest England squad which is a surprise to almost no one. Murray has been in fine form recently but is he really going to progress the national team?
75 min: Rashford is now on for Mata, after the Spaniard took an eternity to walk off. It looks like the young striker will operate from the left to start with Martial playing on the right. Murray is coming on for Brighton, too.
73 min: The united supporters are singing “We’re the famous Man United and we’re going to Wembley”. A bit premature?
71 min: The home fans and the United players are getting a little nervous at Old Trafford as Brighton put them under pressure in an attempt to get an equaliser. Locadia is looking dangerous for the Seagulls but he just cannot find the finish when he needs it. Rashford looks like he is coming on for United.
69 min: Izquierdo is on for March as Brighton add a bit more pace to their team. He has an immediate impact as he gets beyond Young to send in a cross but Matic is well-positioned so can clear.
Please accept my apologies, Kevin.
As another Kevin points out: “He lost a fortune with Bernie Madoff, and is now doing half-assed schlock wherever he can find it.”
67 min: March gets the better of Young on the right flank and cuts back onto his left foot so he can send a curling cross from deep onto Locadia’s head at the back post but the Dutchman does not threaten the goal as his effort flies over.
65 min: Brighton are taking advantage of United’s lack of pressing and have enjoyed a couple of nice moves going forward but still do not look like breaking down the United defence.
63 min: Mata sends a ball over the top for Martial to latch onto but even the Frenchman is not quick enough to catch it and the pass bounces straight into the arms of a waiting Krul.
61 min: Krul had to chase to keep the ball in play, he succeeded but his clearance only made it as far as McTominay but his first touch was not good enough to allow his second to be a shot on an empty net and he was quickly dispossessed before anything dangerous could take place.
59 min: Gross sends in a whipped cross to the back post but Romero reads it and catches the ball unchallenged. Brighton look a little more confident on the ball now, they just need to put more pressure on United to make them nervous.
57 min: The ball goes into the United box and the defence fails to clear it, only getting it as far as Locadia on the edge of the box, he swivels on the ball and fires a left-footed half volley towards the top corner but Romero reacts and tips it over.
56 min: Brighton are looking relatively calm at the moment as they bide their time in this second half. They have plenty of time in which to get an equaliser.
He made a couple of simple mistakes and Brighton were threatening down his flank but it just seems to be Jose ‘go to’ when he wants to show he is unhappy with the team.
@Will_Unwin was Shaw really that awfull in the first half?
— Lars Bjerregaard (@Blegansigt) March 17, 2018
52 min: Gross has the best effort from Brighton so far. Kayal performs a lovely turn 20 yards from goal and then lays the ball into Gross’ path but his shot with the outside of the boot does not have the required swerve as it flashes inches wide.
50 min: Ulloa is cutting a frustrated up top as he fails to earn a free-kick after pressure from Smalling and then he looks around for support after the ball is launched up to him but there was no one in the vicinity.
48 min: All very quiet inside Old Trafford at the moment as both teams settle back into the game after the break. At least it is not snowing.
Kick-off!
Peep! Peep! Here we go again!
We could have VAR in this game and we should just thank our lucky stars that there has been no contentious points so far. I cannot wait to see Mourinho’s reaction to VAR taking four days to work out a free-kick 40 yards from goal. Oh...classic Jose as he brings off Shaw and puts Young on a half-time.
For those considering a holiday, I enjoyed this. Have you been to any?
Somehow these Kevin Bacon adverts have become even more annoying. An impressive achievement. Did he not used to be a very good actor? We all remember Footloose.
Obviously, for the sake of football it would be very exciting for it go to extra-time and penalties but I have some very nice Spanish white wine at home and I would like a glass before 11pm.
United fans will be pleased to see their team dominate after a frustrating week. It is not vintage United but they are certainly on top of Brighton who has looked good defensively apart from the one major lapse.
Maybe we will get a bit of Glenn Murray as he could be the man to get on the end of those dangerous crosses they produced just before the break.
Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Brighton
The hosts have been the better team in the opening 45 minutes and deserve their lead going into the break. It was a nice move and cross which resulted in Lukaku’s opener but they have not always looked dynamic in the final third despite having the majority of possession.
Lukaku is United’s main man at the moment.
5 - Romelu Lukaku has either scored or assisted in each of his last five appearances for Man Utd. Leading.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
v Chelsea ⚽️🅰️
v Crystal Palace ⚽️
v Liverpool 🅰️
v Sevilla ⚽️
v Brighton ⚽️
44 min: Brighton have sent in a couple of dangerous crosses in quick succession but on one in blue and white could get their head on the end of them. They will create a chance soon enough if they keeping putting balls like that into the box.
42 min: Lingard takes a kick to the head from Propper after the Dutchman put his foot up high. The Manchester United man was not too worried and quickly got up.
40 mins: The goal has enthused the United fans who have become more vocal since the ball hit the back of the net. Brighton will now just look to get through to half-time, one would think. As long as they keep it at 1-0 then they are in with a chance.
Goal! Matic sends the ball into the box, after some nice work by Shaw down the left, where Lukaku is waiting at the back post, he gets the better of the defender and calmly directs his header beyond Krul from five yards.
Goal! Manchester United 1-0 Brighton (Lukaku, 37)
A nice header!
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It would be a deserved reward...
@Will_Unwin I hope @OfficialBHAFC win just because their fans have been made to travel a very long way for ridiculous KO time to suit @btsportfootball With the empty seats seems it didn’t suit the out of town @ManUtd fans either! ⚽️
— Birchy_DH6 (@Birchy_NN1) March 17, 2018
34 min: Brighton threaten down the right through Locadia and a dangerous cross is sent into the area but United do manage to get it clear. The visitors are gaining a touch more confident as we go here.
John is worried about the travel plans of supporters.
“I’m following the game in Spain where it’s also snowing at the moment.
I only hope that all the fans who have travelled up from W&E Sussex.,Kent and Surrey to support their team get home safely after the game ...
.....that’s in addition to all the Brighton fans of course!..”
Where is it snowing in Spain?
32 min: A corner is sent into the box by Brighton where Dunk is waiting unmarked, he directs his header at goal but Romero reads it well and pushes the ball well away from goal. The centre-back should probably have done better there.
30 min: Mata swings in a corner to the near post, a scramble ensues until Smalling sends a shot from close range at Krul who chests it wide but the referee gives a goal-kick.
29 min: United are certainly are having the better of the ball but Brighton have thrown a couple of sturdy blocks in on the edge of the area to ensure shots do not threaten Krul. Brighton looks very compact and are keeping their shape. Although Mata almost breaks the deadlock after combining with Martial in the box but his shot is deflected wide.
27 min: Do not forget but if the game ends in a draw, then we would go to extra-time and potentially penalties which would mean a long night for everyone. No replays in the FA Cup quarter finals, remember.
25 min: Solly March goes for a wander across the pitch but it leads to him being tackled by Matic. Brighton rebuild and the ball ends up with March again on the right, the winger sends in a cross but Bailly reads it and diverts it out for a corner.
Jonathan has quickly realised that I am quite boring.
He says: “Isn’t the Mourinho Guardiola debate starting to get about as tiresome as the Ronaldo Messi one? They’ve both had exceptional careers so far. Guardiola and Man City are way ahead this season, but football can change very quickly indeed, just ask Claudio Ranieri.”
22 min: The 5000 Brighton fans get very excited and vocal every time the ball crosses the halfway. It really is great support on a cold night when they are expected to get beat. It will be a late night for them but they would not mind extra-time and penalties if they go through.
20 min: Under no pressure, Propper needlessly puts his team under pressure by sending a wayward 40-yard backpass in the vague direction of Krul but instead it ends up going out for a corner. All those in blue and white will be pleased that nothing came from it.
19 min: Neither goalkeeper has been forced into a save yet, although Krul did drop a simple cross. Must be a tricky night for those not used to playing to come in for their monthly appearance, so they will both want to feel the ball landing comfortably into their hands.
Udayon has been in touch.
He says: “Umm, you seem to indicate that guardiola is miles ahead of mourinho. Is that true? I believe that a structure of a footballing club like City is what gives him an additional advantage over Jose, who is in a club with a clear lack of active participation from their owners who have no interest in football, or anything related to it.”
Admittedly, City’s structure was created essentially for Pep but the style of City is better than what United offer and no one can deny that.
16 min: Dunk almost the first man to realise backpasses might need a little more on them tonight after his pass to Krul almost did not make it, although the Dutchman just beat Lukaku to get it clear.
14 min: There is certainly a great tempo to United tonight, not that it could be any slower than what the team offered against Sevilla. Mourinho is really wanting his team to attack Brighton, too.
12 min: A few empty seats at Old Trafford but it is nothing more than you would expect on a cold Saturday night with many not expecting much from this tie.
10 min: United are very much in control of this game now but they are yet to create a chance of note. Mata is doing some roaming in the final third as he looks to make the difference in quite a static side.
8 min: McTominay is trying to use the ball from the middle of the park, something no one tried on Tuesday night for United. Lukaku is in need of a little more support, though, as he is the main target for the direct pass but there is rarely someone close enough to work with him when he gets possession.
6 min: A white ball is in use, which seems a little odd, surely there must be a second choice in case of snow, nor have the lines been painted a colour different from white which is the norm in these conditions. Ian Darke has just confused Pascal Gross with Christian Gross, the poor guy.
4 min: Martial creates the first bit of danger for United, as he cuts in from the left and eventually gets a shot away which is deflected wide for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Another David wonders if Jose’s time as a top class manager is up...
He says: “Every player has a ‘past it’ date. Managers, too, I’d suggest. Mourinho’s bluster cannot hide his poor team selections, his lack of passion (which he has successfully transmitted to his players), lack of thought regarding how to integrate new players (Pogba, Sanchez), appalling man-management ((Shaw) and disgraceful behaviour (when at Chelsea) to a doctor who was correctly doing her job. Mourinho should be sacked.”
2 min: With a little bit of snow sticking to the playing surface the ball is rolling a little slower than on pristine grass. Brighton have had the majority of possession in the opening couple of minutes.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! As players create trails in the snow, the whistle blows and we are off!!
David emails in defence of Jose...
He states: “In a funny kind of way I do agree with mourn how, because he can choose a team to play and they may loose and he can choose the same side in the next match and they win, and it all boils down to player performance, they get to much protection and the manager suffers.”
I do hope someone has brought an orange ball, otherwise this is going to be a tricky night for all involved. I hope it does not go to extra-time as it is very cold.
The snow is back in Manchester, the mixture of swirling wind and a blizzard is really not going to help playing conditions. Jose Mourinho has back the snood and gillet combination.
Nippy in Manchester...
It's snow joke ❄⛄ at Manchester United . #bbcfacup pic.twitter.com/WQ3n0A5M4G
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 17, 2018
The chanting has begun at Old Trafford, one assumes just so the fans can keep warm in these conditions. Still plenty of people who have not taken their seats yet as they hide inside with a night pint or warm bovril.
A throwback to the good old days when Giggs was flying down the wing.
1993 - Manchester United and Brighton last met in the FA Cup back in January 1993, with United winning 1-0 thanks to a Ryan Giggs goal. Throwback. #MUNBHA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
Robbie Savage is wearing a grey suit, a turtle neck, no socks and bright, white trainers. It is a bold move to go sockless on a freezing night in Manchester, nor do I think those trainers will last long in the snow.
Arthur has been in touch...
“The last thing Mourinho is worried about is Salah and Liverpool. United neutered both in the two matches this season.”
But in the battle for second, it might have a few concerns that he is looking in fine form.
Nicholas has emailed in about Jose...
He asks: “Can someone explain how Mourinho is a media failure with 2nd in the League, victories over most of the Top 6, coached Young into the WC team and given major minutes to young players? It’s weird.”
Not a failure, he just seems to be that he is miles off Guardiola and his team were terrible in Europe.
Arshavin’s current team FC Kairat did win in the Kazakhstani league today, though.
4 - Mo Salah today became the first player to score four goals from exactly four shots in a Premier League game since Andrey Arshavin for Arsenal at Liverpool in April 2009. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/Oxhp2k0vBN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
Liverpool have completed their 5-0 win over Watford, moving them up to third and just two points behind Manchester United, not that Mourinho will be worried about that right now.
Luke Shaw has some competition for a place in the England World Cup squad, with the likes of club-mate Ashley Young, Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand all above him in the pecking order but he looked good when given the opportunity to play in recent weeks so will see this as a chance to show he can play more before the end of the season but it is likely to come far too late to earn him a place in Russia, which might not be a bad thing.
I am a huge fan of the caveat.
@Will_Unwin setting a new record for 'buts' in an MBM sentence at 19:01. Fully expect that fact to be more exciting than anything United offer today.
— Matthew Loten (@intheinaka) March 17, 2018
Brighton’s very own Liam Rosenior has done some words for the Guardian this week on managers and the like.
John has emailed in about Mourinho...
He says: “His 12 minute rant had nothing special about it or him, he’s losing his fragile grip on reality. He knows he’s made a ‘Special’ mistake by moving clubs for Money.”
Naturally, you can email in and tweet me if you find wherever I might be and then I can include your comments in the MBM, allowing us to all feel like one, big, happy family.
Mo Salah has just completed a hat-trick by scoring while falling over, which is new. Alexis Sanchez can only dream of such goals.
There is a change of goalkeeper for Brighton as Tim Krul is brought in to keep him fresh. The Dutchman is the understudy to Mat Ryan who has looked every the inch the Premier League goalkeeper this season but Krul himself was once touted as being set for the top during his time at Newcastle but injuries have seen him struggle in recent seasons but it is great to see him in the line-up for a huge game.
As my mother has repeatedly told me via text today, it is absolutely freezing in Manchester. She has complained of snow but that it is not really sticking, which will be a relief to those travelling to Old Trafford for a lovely night of football.
The answer to United’s problems is to replace De Gea, Young, Fellaini, Sanchez and Rashford. Fellaini and Sanchez were incredibly underwhelming on Tuesday; the latter has not settled into the team since his January arrival while the big Belgian just looked off the pace against Sevilla. The more interesting thing is that McTominay is partnering Matic in midfield while Pogba is forced to sit on the bench once again - the Frenchman will not be happy with that.
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Mourinho’s response to United’s defeat against Sevilla was classic Mourinho as he turned up to his press conference and spoke for 12 minutes about something or other to distract from the fact his team were not very good.
Teams: Manchester United v Brighton
Manchester United: Romero, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, McTominay, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku
Subs: De Gea, Lindelof, Young, Fellaini, Pogba, Sanchez, Rashford
Brighton: Krul, Schelotto, Dunk, Duffy, Suttner, Kayal, Propper, Gross, Locadia, Ulloa, March
Subs: Maenpaa, Bruno, Goldson, Sanders, Izquierdo, Baldock, Murray.
Referee: Andre Marriner
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Preamble
Good evening! Welcome to Saturday Night Football!
After an atrocious week for Manchester United in which they were heavily criticised for an utterly woeful performance in their 2-1 defeat to Sevilla, Jose Mourinho and his team now have to focus on their only chance of palpable success. United need to win the FA Cup to avoid their season looking a bit mediocre. They are a distant second to City in the league and look set to see their rivals crowned champions when they face each other at the start of April.
They cannot really be worse than Tuesday, when they showed no creativity, no quality and no intensity against a Sevilla side who should have easily been dismissed. Will Jose Mourinho make a number of changes to rattle a team short of ideas? They were lacking anyone who could pass a football in the Champions League, so really need to rectify that today.
Brighton, on the other hand, are very close to confirming their Premier League status for another season as they currently sit on 34 points with seven games remaining, so a FA Cup quarter final is a free hit for them. Tuesday showed that there is nothing to be feared at Old Trafford and their players recently saw off Arsenal so will not be too concerned about playing against this United team.
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