Erik ten Hag Reacts To Man United 3-1 Defeat At Home To Brighton.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts to his team disastrous 3-1 defeat against Brighton in front of their home fans on Saturday.

United were 31 games unbeaten at Old Trafford coming into the fixture, as they looked to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal before the international break.

The Red Devil's began the game a better side, but failed to convert their chances going forward. They were eventually punished by former striker Danny Welbeck who put the visitors in front in the 20th minute.

United did find a perfect response, as they had the ball in the back of the net before half time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check with Rashford being adjudged to have taken the ball out of play before sliding it to new signing Rasmus Højlund to convert.

In the second half, Brighton made it 2-0 through Pascal Groß who pounced on a loose ball, feinted to deceive Lisandro Martínez, and buried his finish into the bottom corner for his seventh strike against the Red Devils.

Roberto de Zerbi's side dominated play afterwards, and substitute Joao Pedro extended that advantage for the Seagulls from the edge of the box in the 73rd minute. 

United were terrible in possession and lacked any real cohesiveness about their play as they surrendered to a much better Brighton side.

Hannibal Mejbri, who came on from the bench for United, quickly responded at the other end but it was merely a consolation goal.

Brighton’s fourth straight league win against United lifted them to third in the table.

Only Liverpool and Man City have ever won four in a row against United in the history of the competition. 

Ten Hag, speaking to Sky Sports after the game, said: “We are disappointed. But it was a really small margin. We are so close against a good side. The first 20 minutes was all ours. We created chances but didn’t score.

“We conceded a goal with their first attack. We then had a period in the game that was quite difficult, we fought to get a goal, and it was disallowed. So it is difficult in this period. It has not fallen on our side, but we will fight back, and if we stick together, play as a team, and stick to the rules, we will return.

"Losing three games already this season is definitely something that bothers me, but also I have to see the way we play. Finally, it is about character, we have to see how strong we are, stick together."

On facing Bayern in the Champions League on Wednesday, ten Hag said: “It is a great opportunity against a great opponent. We are all looking forward to being back in the Champions League where we belong. But you have to fight for it, prove yourself every time as a team and as an individual.”

Man United were expected to challenge for the Premier League title, but Erik ten Hag suddenly has a job to do on and off the field, as the fans are quickly turning against the managers tactics.

They have now lost 3 of their 5 games this season, picking only six points and currently sit in 13th position, trailing leaders Man City by nine points already, their worst-ever start to a season.

Eriksen also spoke to BBC Sport after the game and said: "It is a heavy one. We have to look at ourselves. We changed some things but we are disappointed. In the first half we had a lot of moments had good control.

"They had a lot of possession but not many chances. They then score with their first chance and the system they play they keep the ball a lot and we had to chase it down. But we still had chances to get back into the game.

"The small things [matter]. We had the offside at Arsenal and today when we scored but it was out of play. The small things we are missing and a bit of luck to get over the line and get something out of the effort we put in.

"Any game at the start of the season, doesn't matter who you play, is very important. We focus on our games and whoever we play we want to win. But we have lost three already and we have to change that."