Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed their Premier League status for another season with a surprise 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the AMEX Stadium on Friday night.
Midfielder Pascal Gross scored the game’s only goal just before the hour despite Marcos Rojo’s best efforts to clear the ball off the line.
The 2017-18 season has been Brighton’s first-ever in the Premier League and their first top-flight campaign since 1983.
Brighton actually headed into their match with Manchester United on a winless run of seven games whilst Jose Mourinho’s side were looking to secure second place before their FA Cup final against Chelsea later this month.
Aside from Marcus Rashford testing Mat Ryan in the final 10 minutes, the Red Devils were not at it on the south coast on Friday night.
The Seagulls have moved onto 40 points and into 11th place before the weekend’s games and cannot be caught ahead of games against Manchester City and Liverpool to finish the season.
Gross’ winner was a headed effort from close range after David de Gea could only parry Jose Izquierdo’s cross.
Anthony Knockaert and Izquierdo each had excellent games down either wing whilst Pascal Gross was the man of the match in centre midfield.
Manchester United remain five points ahead of Liverpool down in third, although Tottenham Hotspur are only a further point behind with a game in hand. Mourinho’s side finish the season with a trip to West Ham United before hosting Watford.
