Late Brighton strike deals damaging blow to Erik ten Hag’s Man United

On August 24, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag criticized the conceding of two "soft goals" that led to Brighton & Hove Albion's 2-1 victory, sealed by Joao Pedro's 95th-minute header.

On the other hand, Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler – the league’s youngest-ever manager at 31 – enjoyed an “emotional” dream home league debut that he will not forget.

United looked to have snatched a point when Amad Diallo’s deflected effort cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s first-half opener for Brighton.

The visitors could even have won it had Alejandro Garnacho’s effort not clipped teammate Joshua Zirkzee, who was in an offside position, just before the ball crossed the line.

Instead it is Brighton who have a maximum six points from their opening two games under Hurzeler, as Pedro was left completely unmarked to head in Simon Adingra’s cross deep into stoppage time.

“It is especially disappointing because over long parts of the game we had control,” ten Hag told TNT Sports.

“We were controlling the game in possession and doing so well and we (conceded) two unnecessary goals, very avoidable. We conceded two soft goals when we should have acted better as a team.

“I saw many things in those moments so we have to talk. We have to be alive in such moments (and know) what to do to protect our goal.”

Defeat puts the spotlight back on ten Hag with Liverpool set to visit Old Trafford next weekend.

The Dutchman survived at the end of last season, despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, thanks to winning the FA Cup. He got a 1-0 win against Fulham to open the season last weekend thanks to Zirkzee’s late winner.

But the performances in both United’s first two league matches of the new campaign have done little to suggest there will be a marked improvement from a dismal season in 2023-24.

Brighton thrashed Everton 3-0 away in Hurzeler’s first match in charge and showed they will be a contender to get back into European football next season.

The Seagulls took the lead on 32 minutes when Harry Maguire failed to cut out a dangerous cross and Kaoru Mitoma rolled the ball back across goal for Welbeck to tap in for his 100th career goal.

The home side flew out of the traps after the break but failed to build on their advantage.

James Milner had an effort cleared off the line by Diogo Dalot before Welbeck headed off the bar.

United had barely been in the Brighton half since the restart until Diallo drove forward, cut inside onto his left foot and found the net via a deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke.