Brighton condemn Manchester United to sixth home defeat of the season

There had been poignant tributes to Denis Law before kick-off, after the former United striker died on Friday, only for the club’s halcyon years to be quickly forgotten as new manager Ruben Amorim saw his team display familiar frailties.

ANOTHER LOSS: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim looks frustrated. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Manchester United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 3

OLD Trafford rose to pay tribute to Denis Law yesterday, but once proceedings turned to football matters, there was no hint of the former glories presided over by the Manchester United great.

Bruno Fernandes equalised an early opening goal from Yankuba Minteh from the penalty spot but second half goals from the excellent Kaoru Mitoma and Georginio Rutter condemned United to their sixth home defeat of the Premier League season.

There had been poignant tributes to Law before kick-off, after the former United striker died on Friday, only for the club’s halcyon years to be quickly forgotten as new manager Ruben Amorim saw his team display familiar frailties.

The killer third Brighton goal summed up the concerns United have all over the field currently, starting with goalkeeper Andre Onana.

He should have had no problem in cutting out Yasin Ayari’s routine cross as he slid out to his six yard line on 75 minutes, only to spill the ball as he tried to collect.

The error left substitute Rutter with the routine task of taking a touch and ramming the ball in for a 3-1 lead.

For the fifth consecutive home game, United had conceded first and, for the third time in that run, the opening opposition goal came inside five minutes.

It was a depressingly familiar refrain under Amorim - in home games at least - as United were hit on the counter-attack and their defence opened up at an alarming rate.

One simple long ball, from Carlos Baleba, was all it took to send Mitoma sprinting down the left, with wing-back Noussair Mazraoui nowhere to be seen, and the Japanese international selflessly squared for Minteh to tap home.

But, as was the case in the midweek win over Southampton, at least United have shown increasing resilience in recent games, and after 22 minutes they were level.

Brighton had been living dangerously passing the ball out from the back, and United’s pressing had been effective, especially so when Amad Diallo intercepted a pass from keeper Bart Verbruggen.

The ball was worked to Joshua Zirkzee and Baleba, having set up the opening goal, contributed to United’s, grabbing the striker round the neck area and conceding a penalty. The yellow card that followed might easily have been red.

Fernandes, as good a penalty taker as there is in the Premier League, made no mistake, sweeping in a confident kick to his left; his 34th successful conversion in 38 attempts in his United career.

It was no more than United deserved for their part in a finely-balanced contest with Onana required to be sharp to twice block Danny Welbeck, once early, once late, in the first half.

In response, United often worked themselves into promising situations, without really testing Verbruggen. Fernandes came closest, before his goal, when he placed a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Brighton and Hove Albion's Georginio Rutter scores after Onana's mistake. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

It suggested an intriguing second half was in store and Diallo, the hat-trick hero in Thursday’s win over Southampton, opened it by seeing a promising shot blocked.

But the hosts enjoyed a huge slice of luck after 52 minutes when Joao Pedro appeared to have restored Brighton’s lead from a scramble following a free-kick, but the effort was ruled out for a foul by Jan Paul van Hecke on Diogo Dalot.

And there was no such reprieve when Mitoma did score on the hour, with a goal Brighton had been threatening on the break for some time.

Ayari surged through the middle before finding Minteh on the edge of the area and his perfect, far-post cross was met by Mitoma, arriving ahead of Mazraoui, to turn in.

It was a poor piece of defending all-round by United and an especially painful one for Mazraoui, who needed lengthy treatment after wrapping himself around the post.

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana 4; de Ligt 5; Maguire 6, Yoro 5; Mazraoui 4 (Antony 84), Ugarte 6 (Collyer 64, 5), Mainoo 6 (Garnacho 64, 5), Dalot 7; Diallo 7, Fernandes 7; Zirkzee 6 (Hojlund 84).

Subs (not used): Bayindir, Casemiro, Eriksen, Malacia, Martinez.

Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen 6; Veltman 7, Dunk 7, van Hecke 6, Estupinan 7 (Lamptey 84); Baleba 7 (Gomez 90), Ayari 6; Minteh 7 (March 69, 6), Pedro 7 (Enciso 90), Mitoma 9; Welbeck 7 (Rutter 69, 7). 

Subs (not used): Adingra, McConville, Steele, Webster.

Referee: P Bankes 6.