'Eight huge matches left' - Graham Potter remains upbeat despite 'sore' defeat Manchester United

Mason Greenwood completed a hard-fought comeback win against Brighton as Manchester United strengthened their grip on second spot.

Brighton made life difficult on Sunday and United's former player Danny Welbeck put Potter's men on course for their first ever victory at Old Trafford, only for Marcus Rashford and Greenwood to seal a 2-1 triumph.

This match was far less dramatic than the Red Devils’ 3-2 win in September’s reverse fixture but Albion performed well - especially in the first half - and made the hosts sweat.

Dean Henderson was chosen ahead of David De Gea for Sunday’s match and did well to repel a point-blank header from Welbeck, only for the former United striker to direct home the rebound in the 13th minute.

The hosts looked punch drunk and Brighton nearly compounded matters in 19th minute when Lewis Dunk beat Wan-Bissaka to a Pascal Gross free-kick, with Henderson tipping the powerful header over.

Brighton bossed the pedestrian home side for the rest of the first half, with Rashford smartly levelling from Bruno Fernandes’ lay-off after the break and Greenwood’s diving header wrapped up a comeback win in the 83rd minute.

"First half I thought we carried more of a goal threat and were probably the better team overall," said Potter. "Second half we got driven back a little bit more than we would like but didn't feel we were under so much threat in terms of goal chances.

"There were a lot of positives. We're sore because we haven't got anything from the game but the way we handled the opposition, there's a lot of good things. We've got eight huge games left but we're in a good place in terms of performances, so we've got to carry that forward. We have to keep working.

"Until you get the points you can never be sure of anything. It's going to be a fight until the end and you have to make sure you're there.

"I believe in the players and what we're doing and our performances have been consistently good. It's turning them into results that's the challenge. We'll give everything."

Potter added: "We contributed well in the game. We took the lead and were probably the team which carried the most threat in the first half. We just missed that final pass. Man Utd responded in the second half without creating too many chances. They scored from not too much. Maybe a penalty which Danny Welbeck didn't get.

"When it was live I thought it was a penalty then I suppose it's the clear and obvious debate. If Mike Dean had given it I don't think VAR would have overuled it. There's nothing we can do in the end. We're disappointed to come away with nothing.

"I'm confident in terms of the team, the way we're playing and the personality in the team but until you get the points you can never relax. Sometimes the opposition have some quality that you have to hold your hands up to and say 'that's good.' We'll keep going."

Brighton are next in Premier League action against Everton at the Amex Stadium on Monday, April 12.