Following a disappointing first-half performance, Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said that he urged his wingers to attack Brighton’s centre-backs.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes scored to help the Red Devils beat the Seagulls 2-0.
As a consequence, they reclaimed fourth position on the table.
There were no goals in the opening 45 minutes as Brighton dominated at Old Trafford and the home players were booed off at the break.
Rangnick then instructed wingers, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga to run at Brighton’s centre-backs in the second half to give their own full-backs more space.
He said after the game: “We told our two wingers to attack the centre-backs so our full-backs could jump to their full-backs.
“That paid off with Elanga and the red card. We should have killed off the game much earlier. We were not lethal enough.
“First half was Mr Hyde, second half Dr Jekyll and for a change it (the result) was different. In the end it was important to get the three points against an in form team.
“Brighton are very possession based, full of confidence and we had to take more risks in the second half, it paid off.”