As the clocks wound back over the weekend, Manchester United delivered a performance that harked back to the glory days at Old Trafford, filled with flair and excitement.

The historic venue buzzed with joy and a touch of relief as Ruben Amorim’s squad decisively defeated Brighton, marking their third consecutive victory and temporarily lifting them into the top four.

While last week’s triumph over Liverpool at Anfield stood out as a highlight of Amorim’s first year at the helm, this game wasn’t far behind. The task was to maintain that momentum, and United embraced it with the confidence and enthusiasm that had been elusive in recent months.

It’s worth noting that Brighton had become somewhat of a nemesis, having won six of their last seven Premier League face-offs against United.

The best of United’s past squads combined finesse with unpredictability, a narrative that played out once again in this thrilling and action-packed match.

Ruben Amorim has now won three games in a row for the first time as Man United manager

Bryan Mbeumo was the hero as he scored a brace on a thrilling evening at Old Trafford

In Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, United have signed two players in the best traditions of the club; brimming with talent and attacking intent, but also with the character to shine on this stage. Credit to Ineos, they have proved to be two very astute pieces of business.

‘The money was well invested,’ said Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler with a wry smile.

Mbeumo scored twice and Cunha once, with Casemiro getting United’s other goal.

Former Old Trafford favourite and Longsight local Danny Welbeck, still in great shape at the age of 34, claimed his fifth goal in the last four games for Brighton, and Charalampos Kostoulas headed another to set up a tense finish at 3-2 before Mbeumo scored his second of the night with almost the last kick of the game.

‘It wouldn’t be Manchester United without suffering a little bit!’ said Amorim. ‘It was a more complete performance (than Liverpool) and I feel more complete as a manager.

‘I always felt Jim believed and knew what we are doing, but to face the fans is more difficult. I never had that feeling of embarrassment, it is more with the fans. Everything in football can change in one week.’

Amorim will also have been delighted with the defensive diligence of his flair players. Mbeumo, Cunha and Bruno Fernandes all tracked back to deny almost certain Brighton goals.

There is a confidence and camaraderie building around this United team that suggests their Portuguese coach is finally starting to build something of substance.

Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha look astute signings, with the latter getting his first goal here

Casemiro was rewarded for his hard work with a goal as United went fourth in the table

They went ahead in the 24th minute after having two penalty appeals rejected by referee Anthony Taylor and his colleagues on VAR.

The first was a strong one indeed. Amad Diallo cut inside Maxim De Cuyper who raised his right leg behind him and brought down the Ivorian. If there was the slightest touch on the ball before he made contact with Diallo, it was barely discernible.

The second was more in hope than expectation as Mbeumo intercepted Yasin Ayari’s poor pass to Lewis Dunk across his own box and went down as he brushed past the England defender.

Again, Taylor was unconvinced, but Brighton’s mistakes were causing them problems and it was to cost them dearly.

‘If you give them four presents, you can’t win the game,’ lamented Hurzeler.

When Welbeck failed to control Diallo’s stray square pass across the edge of the Brighton box, Fernandes knocked the ball to Casemiro who teed up Cunha. The Brazilian took one touch before whipping a shot around Jan Paul van Hecke and into the bottom corner for his first goal since joining United from Wolves in a £62.5million deal.

Brighton contributed to the second goal as well in the 34th minute. Luke Shaw anticipated Van Hecke’s pass out from the back to Georginio Rutter, and got a foot in to poke it to Casemiro. He sized up a shot from 20 yards and it hit Ayari in the back before spinning past Bart Verbruggen who was hopelessly wrong-footed.

United thought they had killed the game off on the hour mark. Brighton were unhappy that Shaw appeared to tug Rutter’s shirt close to halfway, but the referee once again waved play on and United took full advantage.

Danny Welbeck scored an exquisite free-kick to continue his fine form at the age of 34

Charalampos Kostoulas’ 92nd-minute goal set up a nervy finish but Mbeumo had other ideas

United were able to enjoy themselves in front of the crowd at the end – never a guarantee

Diogo Dalot fed the ball to Sesko who passed to Mbeumo, and he fired into the bottom corner through Dunk’s legs.

Brighton reduced the arrears in the 74th minute after Minteh was sent clear and Patrick Dorgu was lucky to escape a red card for clipping his heels, Taylor and VAR deeming it worthy of only a yellow much to Hurzeler’s disgust.

It was unnecessary as well considering the ball was running through to Lammens, and Welbeck punished his old club by clipping the free kick into the top corner.

Kostoulas got on the end of James Milner’s corner as he rose above Joshua Zirkzee to head home in the second minute of added time.

But Mbeumo finally put the result beyond doubt in the 96th minute, racing onto Ayden Heaven’s clever first-time pass and lifting a shot over Verbruggen to no little relief around Old Trafford.