Maty Ryan expects Albion to have a go at United

And he says that from experience after their trip to tackle Man City earlier this season.

The Seagulls came home from Manchester on the wrong end of a 4-0 defeat that day.

But it came nowhere near reflecting the way they had tRied to take the game to the champions.

Albion have come rather closer to getting a result on three trips to Old Trafford in the last two years, although Ryan only played in one of them.

Can they do it this time? Well it won’t be for the lack of good intentions.

Ryan said: “I’m not too concerned about what other teams are thinking.

“We focus on ourselves and it starts with the manager.

“The first big team we played was City away and, from the beginnings of the team meetings, it was ‘We are going there to have a go at them’.

“We’re adapting within our foundations and our principles as a side.

“We got beat 4-0 that day but the coaching staff were pretty upbeat with the way we played.

“We stuck to our principles and the style we wanted to play.

“We didn’t get the result. Obviously they are a great team.

“We didn’t take our chances at the end of the day and that’s what cost us.

“My point is whoever we are coming up against, be it City or United or whoever, we have a real belief within the squad.

“The coaching staff has brought that. We don’t want to shift that, for whoever we are coming up against.

“We are going to go out there and back ourselves.

“We are going out there to win the game and, against United, it is going to be exactly the same approach.”

Ryan has played in both home wins over United since Albion were promoted and also helped them beat Spurs and Arsenal.

He said: “When you get a result against a big-six team, it is the best feeling I have had in the game up to now, being here in the Premier League. We have managed to do that at home.

“We have beaten United at home a couple of times and two narrow defeats away.

“If we are able to implement what we want to do in the game and be successful, it will be something I will never forget.”

United gave a reminder of their quality with a 3-0 win over Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday and Ryan had the game on at home.

He said: “They have copped some stick this season and then they look like it they have turned it around.

“They put in a strong performance and, as much stick as a team can cop in one moment, all it takes is one game to turn it all around and all of sudden it is not an issue.

“They did that (on Thursday) and I’m sure they will be going in confident, being at home.

“But we have worked hard this week and all season to set the foundation.”

Ryan made a stunning first-half save to keep Albion on terms in his previous Old Trafford outing before being beaten when Ashley Young’s shot took a big deflection off Lewis Dunk for the game’s lone goal.

Tim Krul was between the sticks in the FA Cup quarter-final later that season, when Albion lost 2-0 after going close to drawing level at 1-1.

And David Button started when Albion lost 2-1 last season with Ryan away playing for Australia at the Asia Cup.

Albion have never looked over-awed or been over-run in any of those three games but a first win at the Theatre of Dreams remains elusive.

Ryan does not expect them to be daunted by their surroundings.

He said: “It’s a mouthwatering challenge. I missed the fixture last year and I remember it was such a great occasion in my first season here.

“It’s such an ampitheatre there and one of the most renowned grounds around the world. There is that exciting aspect to look forward.”