Michael Carrick has demanded a response from his Manchester United side after a shocking 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. United were knocked out after surrendering a two-goal lead in a collapse that ended a 50-year record and drew boos from the home support.
Shea Lacey opened the scoring after eight minutes and Mason Mount doubled the advantage just two minutes later. United's early dominance evaporated before half-time when Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back in added time. Pascal Groß equalised in the 65th minute and Maxim De Cuyper completed the turnaround just four minutes later.
Carrick said he understood the fans' frustration after the final whistle. "I totally understand the feelings of the supporters," the manager said. He stressed the need for an immediate reaction, with his team now sitting 13th in the Premier League on just four points from four games.
The defeat marks the first time United have lost at Old Trafford after leading by two goals since 1976. It is also the first home loss from a winning half-time position since 1984, underlining a worrying trend of fragility. United's recent form shows two consecutive defeats, having also lost to Manchester City in the league last weekend.
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler praised his team's belief. "I am not sure how many players on the pitch had experienced winning here, we have a lot of newcomers but when we play to our level we can compete with anyone in the league," he said.
United must now regroup quickly for a Premier League trip to Fulham on Sunday. The Cottagers are 18th, making it a vital opportunity to stop the slide. Carrick's side will be without several key players including Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw and Manuel Ugarte.
The report in full is at Guardian Sport
Manager Michael Carrick has accepted full responsibility for the Carabao Cup collapse. "I totally take responsibility," Carrick said. The defeat to Brighton was United's second consecutive loss. The club, sitting 13th in the Premier League, must now regroup for Sunday's trip to Fulham.
New running statistics from the Premier League show Manchester United rank 18th for sprints and 19th for high-speed runs this season. The club's own data places them 14th for total distance covered. Manager Michael Carrick, whose side sit 13th on four points, must address this after the 2-3 home loss to Brighton. Summer signing Youri Tielemans hinted at the issue in pre-season, telling Rio Ferdinand, "No, not a lot of running." United travel to 18th-placed Fulham next.
