MAN UTD 1, BRIGHTON 3
Manchester United were victims of an unwanted hat-trick as Brighton won at Old Trafford for a third successive season.
On an emotional afternoon when United paid tribute to legend Denis Law, who died on Friday aged 84, the Reds produced a miserable display.
The defensive frailties surfaced again – they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 games in all competitions with Brighton’s third goal calamitous.
United created little and up front were toothless – how they yearn for a striker of Law’s prowess as the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are not fit to lace his boots.
This was United’s sixth home league defeat of the season from 11 games – their worst start since 1893/94 when they lost seven of their first 12 matches.
They have lost 10 of their 22 league games this season, the earliest into a league campaign that they have hit double figures for defeats since 1989/90 under Sir Alex Ferguson.
United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted that his team is ‘suffering’.
“I am seeing that this is the worst-ever team, and I acknowledge that,” he said.
“We are breaking all the records, and we need this t change. In 10 Premier League games I have won two.
“Imagine for the fans of Manchester United me losing more matches than the last coach.
“I am not changing. We have to survive this moment and work hard to win games.
“At the moment everyone is under performing and we have to accept it.
“It is unacceptable for any team in the Premier League to lose the number of games we have done, especially Manchester United.
“Our opponent was better than us in many details. We cannot be consistent, and I am not helping my players.
Embed from Getty Images“I knew it was going to be hard to put completely new ideas.”
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler, whose side completed a league double this season, described it as a ‘mature’ performance from his players.
He said: “We had a good balance, controlling the game, making chances and defending well.
“We were positive and showed self-belief as performances in the last few weeks have been good and we came here having won our last two matches.
“You have to have the right mindset as well as technical things. You need self confidence if you are to win at Old Trafford.”
United, who slipped to 13th place, still have to win back-to-back matches this season which is already a write off in terms of a top four finish and possibly even the lower European places.
This was Brighton’s sixth win in their last seven league matches against United as goals from Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma and substitute Georginio Rutter sealed the victory which lifts them to ninth place.
United made three changes to the team that beat Southampton on Thursday with Diogo Dalot returning from suspension and Zirkzee and defender Harry Maguire both included.
Lisandro Martinez, Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho dropped to the bench.
Antony and Tyrell Malacia were both named as substitutes despite being linked to moves away from Old Trafford during the current transfer window.
Skipper Lewis Dunk started for Brighton who were looking to continue an impressive record of five wins in six league games against United.
Former United striker Danny Welbeck was included while Minteh replaced Simon Adingra.
Jakub Moder was left out as he negotiates a move away from Brighton.
The teams walked out slowly behind a piper playing ‘Flower of Scotland’ in tribute to Law.
Sir Alex Ferguson, accompanied by Brian Kidd, Paddy Crerand and Alex Stepney from Law’s era, laid a wreath in the centre circle where the players lined up.
PA announcer read a poem in tribute to the King of the Stretford End after which there was a period of applause in tribute to the Law.
Brighton didn’t read the script as they stole ahead after just over four minutes through Minteh
Mitoma raced clear of Noussair Mazraoui on the left on to a long ball from Carlos Balbeba and crossed for Minteh to have a simple tap in for the Gambian’s third goal of the season.
There had already been a warning after Joao Pedro fired in a cross which keeper Andre Onana pushed onto Danny Welbeck before bouncing wide.
It was a slow burner for United who didn’t create their first scoring chance until the 17th minute when Bruno Fernandes fired narrowly wide.
United were handed a route back into the game when they were caught playing out from the back as a pass was intercepted enabling Zirkzee to race through on goal only for Baleba to pull him down by an arm around his neck – as clear a spot kick as you will ever see.
Fernandes stepped up to send keeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way from 12 yards for his eighth goal of the season.
The mercurial Amad Diallo was put clean through by a ball over the Brighton defence only for Verbruggen to stand tall as he was driven wide and was unable to find a route to goal.
Brighton thought they had regained the lead early in the second period when Pedro fired home from a poorly defended free kick, only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke on Dalot before the ball reached Pedro.
VAR viewed the incident and sent referee Peter Bankes to the pitchside monitor where made the final ruling.
There was to be no reprieve seven minutes later when the Seagulls regained the lead when Minteh crossed to the far post where Mitoma’s outstretched leg found the net as Mazraoui clattered into the post.
Amorim made his first two changes as Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo made way for Toby Collyer and Garnacho.
Brighton sealed victory with a third goal in the 76th minute after calamitous defending.
Yasin Ayari’s low cross ought to have been a routine save for Onana but he spilled the ball enabling substitute Rutter a gift as he fired home with Onana lying on the ground for his sixth goal of the season.
Amorim made two further changes with eight minutes left as Mazraoui and Zirkzee were replaced by Antony and Hojlund but they were unable to spark another dramatic finish as happened three days earlier against bottom-club Southampton.