Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said it was "annoying" to see his side concede a last-gasp winner to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, a defeat that leaves them looking over their shoulder to secure a Champions League place.
Alexis Mac Allister slammed home a penalty in the ninth minute of time added on to seal a famous win for the Seagulls that pushed them up to sixth in the Premier League table, four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool but with two games in hand.
The 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium dented United’s top-four aspirations, leaving them only four points above Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.
Ten Hag conceded his side contributed to their own downfall during a pulsating south-coast clash.
The Dutchman felt an action-packed opening in which Antony wasted a golden chance before goalkeeper David De Gea was flattened when denying Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma with his face following a poor pass from Victor Lindelof encapsulated the frustration.
“Every defeat is a disappointment but in the end when you lose in the last second, that is of course annoying,” said United boss Ten Hag.
“And I think the first minute sums everything up. We create a good chance, we were not clinical enough, then in the attack after we concede a big chance by a giveaway from us, the ball on the head for David.
“And in the end, we also gave away the goal and that’s annoying because if you can’t win because you don’t finish your opportunities then don’t lose.”
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Alexis Mac Allister fires home from the spot to earn Brighton a 1-0 Premier League win over Manchester United at the Amex Stadium on May 4, 2023. Reuters -
Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring. Reuters -
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw handles the ball in the penalty area resulting in a penalty for Brighton. PA -
Referee Andre Marriner views the VAR screen before awarding a penalty to Brighton. PA -
Manchester United's Anthony Martial after missing a chance. Getty -
Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford. PA -
United's Anthony Martial shoots at goal. Reuters -
Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister after a missing chance in the first half. Getty -
United midfielder Casemiro heads first-half chance over bar. Getty -
Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister shots at goal. AP -
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele punches clear under pressure from United's Victor Lindelof. AP -
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma fires a shot straight into the face of United goalkeeper David De Gea. Getty -
United goalkeeper David de Gea lies on the ground after blocking a Kaoru Mitoma shot with his face. PA -
Brighton's Julio Enciso shoots wide in first half. AFP -
Referee Andre Marriner booked Casemiro of Manchester United. Getty
With plenty at stake in the battle for continental qualification, rival players clashed in a heated second half after Antony’s crude challenge on Mac Allister sparked a mass brawl.
The two sides were each shown four yellow cards across the course of a gripping encounter.
Ten Hag was unhappy with some of Brighton’s challenges and also bemoaned a free-kick award in the build-up to referee Andre Marriner pointing to the spot after a VAR review of Luke Shaw’s handball on the pitch-side monitor.
“The annoying thing is that the free-kick before [the corner] is never a free-kick and I have seen really bad tackles today, sometimes without whistles as well,” he said.
“Every attack you make, they kick you and then from a fair block it’s a free-kick and it’s a corner and then it’s a disappointing handball in the dying seconds and you can’t react any more.
“It’s not about me to give a judgement about the ref. We lost this game, we make a mistake in the end and we didn’t take our chances but of course there are some disappointments.”
Brighton’s win partially avenged the spot-kick heartache they suffered at the hands of their opponents in last month's FA Cup semi-final and completed a league double over United.
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, who overcame illness to lead the Seagulls to success, said: “We deserved to win today, we deserved to win in the semi-final. If you play well, it can happen one time you lose but in the end you win, my experience in football says it’s like this.
“I feel better with the victory. I’m wasted!”
Player ratings
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BRIGHTON RATINGS: Jason Steele 8: Good saves from Rashford, Antony and Martial in first half. And again after break from Fernandes. Excellent night’s work from goalkeeper. AP -
Moises Caicedo 7: Midfielder started at right-back due to injuries and grew into the role as match went on. Left for dead by Rashford in first half and needed Steele to produce decent stop. Booked for foul on Fernandes late on but was then denied injury-time goal by De Gea save. AFP -
Adam Webster 7: Saw header from corner saved by Ge Gea inside 20 minutes as defender looked to score first goal since February 2022. Booked for late tackle on Fernandes which was correct call despite his protests. Getty -
Lewis Dunk 7: Captain was nutmegged by Rashford early doors who then created chance for Fernandes who could only fire well over. Booked for confronting Antony after United winger chopped down Mac Allister. Immense in the air when United put crosses into box. AFP -
Pervis Estupinan 8: One magnificent recovery challenge to take ball off Rashford with United attacker almost through on goal which summed up Ecuadorian’s impressive performance at the back. AP -
Billy Gilmour 6: Caught in possession in first couple of minutes which nearly resulted in Antony scoring. Mixed bag distribution wise from midfielder, some lovely balls to feet at times, but also guilty of over-hitting passes and wasting counter-attacks. Certainly no faulting his workrate. AP -
Julio Enciso 8: Paraguayan teenager is enjoying run in starting XI and is real livewire in possession. Struck a nice effort just wide in first half, but fired another shot high and wide after skipping easily past Casemiro. Getty -
Alexis Mac Allister 8: Argentine, who has been linked with move to United, curled shot just after half-hour mark. On receiving end of some poor tackles from Casemiro and Antony. Denied late winner by fine De Gea save but then calmly smashed penalty into top corner nine minutes into injury-time. AP -
Kaoru Mitoma 7: Clean through in opening five minutes but shot straight at De Gea’s face. Side-footed another chance just wide not long after cutting inside from left. Shot cleared off line in injury-time. Could be a world-beater if he learns to shoot with his left peg as he is ridiculously right footed. AFP -
Facundo Buonanotte 7: Produced a lovely curling strike from an acute angle that flew wide of target but had De Gear at full stretch just before half-time. Given standing ovation for his efforts when he came off after break. Getty -
Danny Welbeck 6: Striker has scored four goals in last six league games but never had sight of goal against former club until just before hour mark when his struck first-time shot wide. Some decent link-up play in second half. AP -
SUBS: Solly March (On for Buonanotte 63’) 7: Missed key penalty in League Cup final shoot-out defeat against United but was nearly the hero here with one sensational run forward that ended with him thumping shot wide. AP -
Deniz Undav (On for Welbeck 75’) 6: One shot deflected wide for corner by Shaw. Getty -
Levi Colwill (On for Gilmour 75’) 6: Chelsea loan man booked for tripping Sabitzer within two minutes of coming on. AFP -
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 7: Saved from Mitoma with his face on three minutes and looked out for the count. No chance for Mac Allister’s penalty. In between, he made several fine saves and was about to register his eighth clean sheet in United’s last 11 league games until late spot-kick. Getty -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 7: Usually excellent in one v ones, but work cut out against Mitoma in a fascinating battle. Cleared a 21st minute cross away. Left his position to attack at the end of the first half. Nutmegged by Gilmour. AFP -
Victor Lindelof 7: Playing well and he did again but gave the ball away to Mitoma on three minutes and was fortunate Brighton didn’t take the chance. AP -
Luke Shaw 7: Another who is playing well. Harshly received a yellow card in injury-time after a nothing challenge on Encisco, but his handball in the final moments of the game led to a Brighton penalty … and another United away defeat against a top ten side. PA -
Diogo Dalot 7: Played at left-back away from his natural position and lost the ball after 54 minutes to set up Mitoma. Booked. Then he got the ball caught under his feet. All inside six minutes. Atrocious ball saw him concede possession and an attack break down on 71. AP -
Casemiro 6: Fired 10th minute effort towards Gatwick Airport, then dispossessed by Gilmour, then gave the ball away on 14. Headed over just before half-hour mark, then did his usual heavy tackle on Mac Allister. Got away with a second booking in the second half and also curled a shot over. Getty -
Fred 5: Easily dispossessed on 67 by Caidedo, the man he was outclassed by. AFP -
Antony 6: Put a clear chance wide in second minute and again on 20. Couldn’t get into the game and faded in the second half. Lost his head and was booked in second half for a swinging challenge on Mac Allister. United don’t score enough goals. It’s a major problem. PA -
Bruno Fernandes 6: Wonder ball forward to Rashford in opening 20 minutes. Was in space as Rashford broke before half time. Heavily challenged by Webster, who was booked. Shot on in second half. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford 6: Lovely play in the build-up to a 10th minute attack. Beautiful as he went past Caiciedo and shot on target just before half-hour. Rapid but should have passed to Fernandes in the first half. PA -
Anthony Martial 5: His manager didn’t feel like he was doing enough, but there were moments – a well-timed run to set up Antony on 20 minutes. Worked a move well with Fred before firing a shot at Steele later in half. A couple of fleet-footed moments in the second half, but his boss was right. Reuters -
SUBS: Jadon Sancho (On for Antony 76’) N/A. Getty -
Marcel Sabitzer (On for Fred 76’) N/A. PA -
Wout Weghorst (On for Martial 83') N/A. PA
