Manchester United suffered another miserable home defeat as they were beaten 3-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford.
Yankuba Minteh’s early goal put the Seagulls ahead and though Bruno Fernandes levelled it up before the break from the penalty spot, second-half goals from Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter deservedly took the game away Ruben Amorim’s side.
United’s fourth home defeat in five games, which featured a miserable goalkeeping error by Andre Onana for the third goal, did not feature a single shot on target from open play.
The result means they miss the chance to move up from 13th in the Premier League table. Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton leapfrog Fulham to go ninth.
How it happened at Old Trafford
Starting slowly has been a feature of United games at Old Trafford, Minteh’s goal being the third time in five home games that Amorim’s side have conceded in the first five minutes. Mitoma got in behind and squared for the Gambian to slot home.
But there was a response from United on the day that Old Trafford paid tribute to United great Denis Law, whose death at the age of 84 was announced by his family on Friday evening. Just as against Southampton on Thursday, Amad Diallo was the catalyst.
It was the hat-trick hero from midweek who won the ball high before Carlos Baleba fouled Joshua Zirkzee and Fernandes converted the penalty. But that proved to be as good as it got for United.
Amorim had warned this would be a rollercoaster period full of ups and downs. This time, the second half brought a dip. Joao Pedro thought he had restored Brighton’s lead only for VAR to rule it out for a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke. They did not have to wait long.
Minteh, making only his second Premier League start since early October, turned provider for Mitoma, the Japan international beating Noussair Mazraoui at the far post. It was no more than Hurzeler’s side deserved and this time there was no late salvo.
Onana’s inexplicable error, pushing a tame cross into the path of Rutter, guaranteed that. United got away with one against Southampton. Not this time. Well beaten, as Brighton won at Old Trafford for a third consecutive season.
Amorim: Worst team in Man Utd history
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaking in the press conference:
“In 10 games in the Premier League, we won two. I know that. Imagine what this is for a fan of Manchester United. Imagine what this is for me. So, we are getting a new coach that is losing more than the last coach. I have full knowledge of that.
“Like I said, I’m not going to change, no matter what. I know we can succeed, but we need to survive this moment. Because I’m not naive and I know that we need to survive now.
“We are being the worst team, maybe, in the history of Manchester United. I know that you want headlines, but I’m saying that because we have to acknowledge that and to change that. Here you go, your headlines.”
Man Utd’s misery in stats
- Manchester United suffered their sixth home Premier League defeat of the season, their most from their opening 12 home matches of a league season since 1893-94 (7).
- Man Utd have conceded the first goal in each of their last five Premier League games at Old Trafford, their joint-longest ever such run in the competition, also doing so five times in a row from August to October 2023.
- Manchester United have lost 10 of their 22 Premier League games this season, the earliest into a league campaign that they have hit double figures for defeats since 1989-90 under Alex Ferguson (also 22nd game).
Amorim: It is not acceptable
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaking to Sky Sports:
“Another loss at home. It’s not acceptable, the way we suffered the goals. We can play some football but [only] in small spaces of time, so it’s not consistent and we get nervous and then we suffer a goal.
“Again, in the beginning, it’s one play that is clearly what Brighton do. Then it’s really hard to turn things around. We get really anxious, really nervous and they were better again.”
Asked about Onana’s error, he said: “I think you felt it in the stadium. But we cannot end the game like that. Everybody out of position, so we have to end the game in a different way. No matter the result, we have to be a different team in all aspects.
“Brighton were comfortable. We tried [to get back into it] but with not very good football. You can see this game and remember Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, where we were in the game and suffer goals where we cannot suffer. Then it’s really hard for everybody. We lost again at home, it’s not acceptable. We need to change that and change fast.”
Is it going to continue like this for a while? “That is clear. With me, that is clear. Because I’m not going to change the way I see the game. I’m very clear on that. The players are going to suffer, I’m sorry, the fans are going to suffer. I have one way of doing things, I know it’s going to [bring] results. But we have to suffer these moments. I think it’s very clear for everybody what we are going to do.”
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Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim reflects on yet another home defeat
Brighton ‘comfortable’ and ‘mature’
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler speaking to Sky Sports:
“I think we showed a very mature performance, we had a good balance of good defence and controlling the game in possession. We dominated, especially the second half, and created the chances. I’m happy and proud of the group.”
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk speaking to Sky Sports:
“We were comfortable at the end, we didn’t give them any chances at the end all game. We were comfortable, we pressed them at the end. We have learned, to win a game of football, it doesn’t have to be pretty to win a game.
“We could have been in an even better place, but we’re looking up the table and where we want to be.”
