Manchester United’s difficult start to the season has taken another turn for the worse after they suffered two defeats in the space of four days, leaving Michael Carrick under growing pressure.
United were beaten by Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend before Brighton & Hove Albion produced a stunning comeback at Old Trafford on Wednesday, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 Carabao Cup victory.
The defeat to City was already a major setback for Carrick, but United had the opportunity to respond immediately against Brighton. Instead, they suffered another damaging loss in front of their home supporters.
United made the perfect start against Brighton, with Shea Lacey scoring after eight minutes before Mason Mount doubled the lead two minutes later. However, the advantage quickly disappeared as Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back before half-time.
Pascal Gross equalised for Brighton in the 65th minute before Maxim de Cuyper completed the comeback four minutes later. Carrick was forced to introduce captain Bruno Fernandes late in the game in an attempt to rescue the situation, but United could not find a way back.
The result means United have now suffered back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton in the same week, despite taking a two-goal lead in the latter match.
It is particularly damaging for Carrick because the Brighton fixture offered an immediate chance to put the Manchester derby defeat behind them. Instead, United’s problems followed them into the cup, with the team again unable to protect a promising position.
The Brighton defeat also ended a 50-year record. United had not lost a home match after taking a two-goal lead since Tottenham came from behind to beat them 3-2 in 1976.
For Carrick, the next challenge is to stop the slide before it develops into a wider crisis. United have now suffered three successive domestic cup defeats, following last season’s loss to League Two side Grimsby Town and Brighton’s FA Cup victory at Old Trafford in January.
The back-to-back defeats have intensified questions around United’s form and Carrick’s ability to produce a response when his side face setbacks. With the season still developing, the pressure will now be on the United manager to find a solution quickly.
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