Pascal Gross tapped in to score past Manchester United under their fourth different manager. Gross then struck again for Brighton. Gross again for United.
There were boos at the pause. Dumbfounded United supporters stood, their arms crossed, puffing their cheeks. The reactions were identical at full-time. New season, old United.
John Murtough, the football director, and chief executive Richard Arnold stared stoically from the directors' box. Darren Fletcher and the goalkeeping coaches had to run the gauntlet and mingle with supporters as they were relocated to the stands with the analysts. Fletcher wisely headed inside two minutes before the final shrill.
