Man Utd beat 10-man Brighton to go fourth

Cristiano Ronaldo ended his goal drought in emphatic style as Manchester United moved up to fourth in the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Brighton at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo had gone six games without scoring but blasted home before Lewis Dunk's red card dented Brighton's hopes and Bruno Fernandes' strike effort added late gloss to the score.

It was anything but a convincing performance from United, Jakub Moder hitting the crossbar and Danny Welbeck somehow heading over after Brighton were down to 10 men.

Indeed, it had required a spectacular save from David de Gea just to keep his side on level terms at the break, clawing away a Moder header with his outstretched right hand.

Brighton produced the more enterprising football in that first half with United reliant on counter-attacks, the best chance coming the way of Jadon Sancho early on.

But the game turned on two losses of possession in their own half, Ronaldo punishing Yves Bissouma's mistake and Dunk fouling Anthony Elanga after his own poor touch.

The win - only United's third in seven games - lifts Ralf Rangnick's side two points above West Ham and into the Champions League qualification places. Brighton remain ninth.

Ronaldo could have added to his tally in the second half. Twice he failed to punish Brighton with his head - once thanks to a fine save by Robert Sanchez and then when he diverted his attempt wide. He was unselfish when setting up Fernandes in the second half too.

The bigger concern for Rangnick will be that his team were outplayed before the red card. In terms of coherent possession play, there was little sign of the revolution taking shape. Fred endured a miserable night in midfield and Brighton's passing game looked better at times.

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