Manchester United’s dismal start to the campaign plunged to new depths on Wednesday evening as Brighton staged a remarkable comeback at Old Trafford, overturning a two-goal deficit to claim a 3-2 victory and knock Michael Carrick’s side out of the Carabao Cup.
The defeat was historic in the worst possible sense for United. Not since Tottenham achieved the feat back in 1976 — half a century ago — had the Red Devils surrendered a two-goal advantage on home soil and gone on to lose.
Home supporters made their feelings abundantly clear, jeering their players off the pitch at full time. In stark contrast, Brighton’s travelling contingent celebrated wildly in their corner of the ground.
For Carrick, it represented yet another catastrophic evening in what is rapidly becoming a season of deepening crisis at Old Trafford.
Brighton pulled off an incredible comeback after going two goals down against United at Old Trafford
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The evening had begun so promisingly for United. Shea Lacey, given his first senior start of the season, took just eight minutes to open the scoring with a composed finish — the 19-year-old’s maiden career goal.
It was a moment of redemption for the highly rated youngster. His previous encounter with Brighton at Old Trafford, eight months earlier, had ended in misery after he was sent off following a second-half introduction, leaving him dejected as he trudged down the tunnel.
Mason Mount swiftly made it 2-0, hammering in after Marcus Rashford’s initial effort was blocked. The pair had struck within the opening ten minutes, and everything appeared to be falling into place for Carrick’s men.
Yet what followed would render Lacey’s breakthrough moment a mere footnote on an evening that descended into chaos for those wearing red.
Brighton’s route back into the match began in first-half stoppage time when Charalampos Kostoulas found the net from a tight angle, halving the deficit and shifting the momentum decisively.
Michael Carrick has suffered a poor start to the season as United boss
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The equaliser arrived midway through the second half, and it owed much to sloppy defending.
A headed clearance from the halfway line dropped to Pascal Gross, who found himself completely unmarked on the edge of the United area. The Brighton captain had the luxury of time to turn and beat debutant goalkeeper Karl Darlow — his eighth career goal against United.
Just four minutes later, the turnaround was complete. Kostoulas turned provider, cutting the ball back for substitute Maxim de Cuyper to convert from close range.
A panicked Carrick threw on captain Bruno Fernandes with 18 minutes remaining in a last-ditch bid to rescue the tie. Rashford went close to levelling but was thwarted by Jason Steele.
The result compounded what has been a torturous period for Carrick and his squad. Just days earlier, United were beaten in the Manchester derby by a City side reduced to ten men, a result that drew widespread criticism.
Off the pitch, the bombshell news that 15-year-old academy prodigy JJ Gabriel wants to leave the club has sent shockwaves through Old Trafford.
The teenager, who won the Under-18 Premier League player of the year award last season despite being only 14 when the campaign started, had been expected to make his debut against Brighton. His name and the number 77 were even printed in the matchday programme.
United have now lost three of their opening six games this season in all competitions
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Wednesday’s elimination also extended a grim pattern in knockout football. Following last season’s humbling EFL Cup defeat at League Two Grimsby and Brighton’s FA Cup victory at Old Trafford in January, United have now suffered three consecutive domestic cup exits.
Few clubs have tormented United quite like Brighton in recent years. The Seagulls arrived in Manchester having claimed seven victories from their previous eleven encounters with the Red Devils, a run stretching back to their triumph in the opening match of the Erik ten Hag era and including a 4-0 demolition in 2022. Wednesday’s result made it eight wins from twelve.
Carrick’s recurring inability to see out matches from winning positions has become a defining flaw of his tenure. United let a lead slip at Everton recently, failed to capitalise against ten-man City, and now this — comfortably the most damaging collapse yet.
Benjamin Sesko’s case for a regular starting berth was hardly strengthened either. The Slovenian striker was handed a rare start but was substituted on the hour mark after an anonymous display, with non-specialist forwards continuing to be preferred ahead of the former RB Leipzig man.
