EPL: Manchester United 1-0 Brighton

Ashley Young celebrates Dunks own goal

Ashley Young's deflected effort proved decisive as Manchester United battled to a 1-0 victory against Brighton at Old Trafford.

The former Aston Villa star's 20-yard drive in the 66th minute took a massive deflection off Lewis Dunk and the ball looped over Mat Ryan and into the top corner.

The result was hard for the Seagulls to take as they defended well and created chances of their own on the break.

In the opening minutes Romelu Lukaku lifted an effort over the bar for United and, when Brighton responded, a dangerous Anthony Knockaert cross could not be turned home by a Seagulls team-mate.

Chris Hughton's team continued to look dangerous in the early stages and David de Gea was forced to save Pascal Gross' low drive after good play by Bruno.

United had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee when Anthony Martial went down in the area but Brighton contained their hosts well in the first half.

Lukaku then headed Antonio Valencia's pinpoint cross wide as United grew increasingly frustrated.

However, Jose Mourinho's side went extremely close to taking the lead on the stroke of half time when only a brilliant double save by Ryan kept out efforts by Lukaku and then Paul Pogba.

Brighton continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack after the interval and Glenn Murray was only just unable to latch on to the impressive Gross' cross.

After United had taken the lead Brighton almost grabbed a late equaliser but no-one could get on the end of Bruno's cross as Mourinho's team closed the gap on table-topping Manchester City to five points.