Carrick accepts responsibility after Brighton stun Manchester United in Carabao Cup

Michael Carrick took responsibility after Manchester United surrendered a two-goal lead in a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton at Old Trafford.

United appeared to be in control when Shea Lacey and Mason Mount scored within the opening 10 minutes. Brighton responded before half-time, however, as Charalampos Kostoulas reduced the deficit and Pascal Gross equalised.

Maxim De Cuyper completed the turnaround by scoring Brighton’s winning goal, sending United out of the EFL Cup in the third round.

The result prompted a furious reaction from the home supporters, who booed both the players and Carrick at the final whistle. United had not previously lost at home after leading 2-0 for 50 years.

Carrick acknowledged that his side had allowed the match to slip away after establishing a commanding position.

“We had the game exactly where we wanted it and let it get away from us. That’s the story of the game,” Carrick said.

“There are a number of things we will look at and dissect. I know quite a bit about where it went wrong.

“We can’t accept that as a group. Listen, I take responsibility for that, with the performance towards the end of the second half. That is on me.”

The defeat came only days after United lost 1-0 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, increasing the scrutiny on Carrick six games into the season.

The manager made eight changes for the Brighton fixture, but the collapse raised further questions about the strength of his squad beyond his first-choice players.

Carrick’s side must now respond when they travel to face Fulham at Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Sunday.

“We will all be better. We have to be better. We have a big game on Sunday that we have to prepare for,” he said.

“We are out of this competition. We’ve got to get back to winning football matches.

“It doesn’t feel good at the moment, let me tell you. It doesn’t feel good. We can get back to winning football matches and we can do a lot of things better.”

Carrick’s successful spell as interim manager last season, when he guided United to third place, resulted in his permanent appointment and raised expectations of a title challenge.

Those hopes have faded quickly after three defeats in six matches in all competitions.

The former United midfielder said he understood why the supporters expressed their anger after another disappointing evening at Old Trafford.

“It’s pretty obvious isn’t it? I totally understand the feelings of the supporters,” Carrick said.

“You have to accept it. I totally accept it. It is on me ultimately, as a team, what we look like, how we play, what results we get.

“I will take that. I will take the praise and I will stand here and take the criticism and the upset. I totally understand it tonight for the way the game went. We have got to win games.”