Manchester United 2-1 Brighton - Five things we learned as Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford extend win streak

Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford struck to keep Manchester United rolling under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a seventh straight victory under the Norwegian.

Pogba won a penalty before the half-hour mark, cutting inside from the right and falling to the turf as Gaetan Bong scrambled to cut his run off.

The Frenchman's trademark stuttered run-up was followed by a crisp finish into the far corner and a celebration in tribute to his newborn son.

And it was two before the break when Diogo Dalot slipped in Marcus Rashford, who checked inside before lifting the ball into the far right corner from the tightest of angles to grab his fourth goal in four games.

Pascal Gross pulled a goal back to set up a lively finish but despite a slight wobble, United held on for a crucial three points to continue their revival.

Paul Pogba is a prodigious talent but until the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Frenchman had failed to consistently provide a return in front of goal.

The blockbuster efforts he became associated with at Juventus have dried up, but after having the shackles released in the current United set-up.

His penalty lifted him to match his career-best return in the league with eight goals, but his intent moments before, delicately lifting the ball on the half-volley beyond Gaetan Bong before dashing into the area, demonstrated his newfound threat.

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Marcus Rashford has broken out into the form of his career under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - taking his record to five in his last six league appearances - and the England striker's importance was further undlined against the Seagulls.

Clever movement to flip his position with Anthony Martial is creating space for United and that is where the second goal came from.

A cool head to create the opening by chopping back on to his right foot was followed by a clinical finish high into the top right corner from a tight angle. It is not only his cool head in front of goal, but composure when on the ball: without even moving the ball, Rashford was able to send Shane Duffy sprawling with the drop of a shoulder.

We are witnessing a player mature into a complete forward and the prospect of the 21-year-old maintaining his starting role until the summer should fill Gareth Southgate with excitement.

It does mean though that Romelu Lukaku will be reduced to a squad role for the foreseeable future and thus casting doubt on his long-term future at Old Trafford.

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It's been straight forward so far Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aside from weathering a storm at Tottenham to cling on to their lead.

And the Norwegian will have taken notes on the last 20 minutes after Pascal Gross halved the deficit to make United doubt themselves somewhat.

High, hanging balls into the box appeared to unsettled what has been a solid defence over the last seven games since Jose Mourinho's departure, with Shane Duffy towering above David De Gea at a free-kick and several corners frantically cleared away in the dying minutes.

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Luke Shaw dropped out of the United line-up late on through illness, handing Diogo Dalot an opportunity, albeit in his less-favoured left-back role.

The Portuguese was relatively untroubled and even returned passes adequately in the final third with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.

But Pascal Gross pinned himself between Dalot and Phil Jones to halve the deficit in a lapse of concentration.

And it was Ashley Young on the other side who failed to get out and close the space for Davy Propper's clever cross with the outside of the boot. Brighton, had they committed more bodies forward earlier, could have profited from Young standing off frequently, with Gaetan Bong regularly finding himself with time and space to deliver from the left.

United's revival under Solskjaer has been impressive, but a new full-back at least looks to be high on their wish list this summer.

Chris Hughton's side set up with five across the middle in the hope that Glenn Murray would be able to pull Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof about and provide space for midfielder runners.

But after surrendering the lead, the Seagulls looked blunt in their approach to find a way back into the game, perhaps weary of the pace United offered in transitions and the potential for a thrashing.

But once Anthony Knockaert was introduced alongside Florin Andone, Brighton had the option to feed the ball into the French winger and commit more bodies forward. It was too little too late for Brighton with Hughton likely regretting the conservative approach from the start.