Man Utd booed off after Brighton condemn them to worst league start at home in 131 years
Manchester United were booed off after slumping to their 10th Premier League defeat of a miserable season as their bogey side Brighton claimed a third consecutive victory at Old Trafford.
Andre Onana’s embarrassing blunder for Brighton’s third goal summed up another desperate afternoon for United, who have now lost six of their last seven Premier League meetings with the south coast club.
Old Trafford was only half full by the time the final whistle sounded, with supporters having left in droves, but those who hung around let their feelings be known by booing.
United were behind after just five minutes after more dozy defending, the outstanding Carlos Baleba playing a ball over the top and Noussair Mazraoui failing to anticipate the danger as Karou Mitoma sped away and squared for Yankuba Minteh to score.
Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot after Jan Paul van Hecke was ruled to have kicked Diogo Dalot following a VAR review but Brighton were too good in the second half as familiar failings again undid United.
The superb Yasin Ayari escaped Manuel Ugarte far too easily in midfield, driving forward and finding Minteh who was allowed to bend in an inswinging cross with no pressure on the ball from Dalot. Mazaraoui was beaten at the back post by Mitoma who nipped in to stab home.
Then came Onana’s latest blunder. Ayari again beat the offside trap with a clever run in behind to latch on to Solly March’s quick pass. His cross should have been easily smothered by Onana but he spilled the ball diving down to catch it, allowing substitute Georginio Rutter to turn and finish into an empty net.
United paid tribute before kick-off to their late, great centre-forward Denis Law, who died on Friday aged 84, but this team could not be much further removed from some of the vintage United sides the former Scotland international used to represent.
United, who did not have a shot on target in open play, have now lost six times at home in the league this season, their most from their opening 12 home matches since 1893-94.
