Manchester United's slide continued on Wednesday as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup third round at home to Brighton, a defeat that marked their first loss at Old Trafford after leading 2-0 since Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge of St Mirren — a gap stretching back to 1976, when John Pratt scored a winner for Tottenham.
The result compounded a miserable few days for the club following Sunday's defeat by a 10-man Manchester City side, which had already prompted fan protests inside and outside Old Trafford. This time, supporters again voiced their frustration, with many leaving early and others booing as the team fell behind late in the match. Some confronted players and interim boss Michael Carrick as they left the pitch, questioning what had gone wrong.
Amid the gloom, there was a rare bright spot: 18-year-old debutant Shea Lacey scored inside eight minutes, becoming the first teenager to net on his senior United debut since Marcus Rashford in 2016. Carrick made eight changes for the tie, but the defensive reshuffle backfired badly. Diogo Dalot, one of three players retained from the weekend, continued to struggle for form, while makeshift left-back Noussair Mazraoui's selection reignited criticism of United's transfer business, given they failed to sign cover in that position before the window closed. Young defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven also appeared out of their depth against a Brighton side that grew in control as the game progressed.
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said afterward that his team deserved the win, noting they gained increasing command as the match wore on — an assessment Carrick did not challenge.
Despite the setback, Carrick insisted he does not feel the mounting pressure that has followed previous United managers. "I don't feel under pressure," he said. "Either way, that doesn't bother me one bit. I understand what goes on outside and how the world works, but it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is winning games, having a good feeling around the place and a good feeling around the group to know we're moving in a good direction."
Carrick's tenure since replacing Ruben Amorim in January has now included three defeats in this stretch — more than in his previous 17 matches in interim charge. His side's only two wins this season came against newly promoted Ipswich, after falling behind, and Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.
The manager expressed particular disappointment that Lacey's milestone moment had been overshadowed by the wider disarray. "It's a shame that Shea's moment, such a great moment for him, for his family, his friends and the whole academy, gets a bit lost, unfortunately," Carrick said. "It won't for him when things settle down, but as we sit here now, it feels that it was a long time ago."
Carrick also addressed reports involving 15-year-old academy prospect JJ Gabriel, who reportedly turned away from a potential debut amid the chaotic circumstances of the City game. "He's a young boy, he's 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, looking after our younger players, their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure, we've got to be really conscious of that in this situation," he said.
Looking ahead, Carrick acknowledged the growing sense of crisis around the club but maintained that results could change the narrative quickly. "We've gone out of the cup tonight, and the feeling around the place feels bigger than that," he admitted. "But it doesn't have to be like that. If we win football matches again, it can go in a different direction."
United face Fulham on Sunday in their final match before the international break. Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp, speaking on Sky Sports, questioned whether the club has the personnel to turn things around quickly. "Right now, they're miles off it," he said. "It doesn't matter how good the manager is, if you don't have the right players it makes it really difficult. This weekend becomes a huge game."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.