Manchester United: Michael Carrick accepts blame after Brighton overturn two-goal lead

Michael Carrick accepted responsibility after Manchester United suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat by Brighton in the English League Cup third round at Old Trafford.

United were two goals ahead inside 10 minutes through Shea Lacey and Mason Mount, but collapsed as Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back before Pascal Gross equalised. Maxim De Cuyper then completed Brighton’s comeback.

It was the first time in 50 years that United had lost a home match after leading 2-0. Carrick and his players were booed by supporters at the final whistle, four days after a controversial 1-0 home defeat by Manchester City.

“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.”

Carrick guided United to third place during his spell as interim boss last season and was appointed permanently with expectations of a title challenge this term.

However, United have now lost three of their six matches in all competitions. They next travel to Fulham in the top-flight on Sunday, with another defeat likely to intensify the pressure on the manager.

Criticism of United’s close-season recruitment has been accompanied by concerns over the squad’s depth. Carrick made eight changes against Brighton, with the team unable to protect its early advantage.

A defeat in west London would leave United in a full-blown crisis barely a month into the new campaign.

“We will all be better. We have to be better. We have a big game on Sunday that we have to prepare for. We are out of this competition. We’ve got to get back to winning football matches,” Carrick said.

“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.

“We want to win and we want to win quickly. It’s as simple as that. The next game is Sunday and that is purely all I’m thinking about. We will get better with a number of things.”

Carrick was a decorated member of the Manchester United teams that won Premier League titles and the Champions League under Alex Ferguson. His successful interim spell had raised hopes that he could lead the club to their first English title since Ferguson retired in 2013.

But the former England midfielder, whose only previous managerial role was with second-tier Middlesbrough, now faces the prospect of fighting to keep his job unless results improve quickly.

United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who oversees the club’s football operations, has already dismissed Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim during his reign.

Asked whether he understood the supporters’ anger, Carrick replied: “It’s pretty obvious isn’t it? I totally understand the feelings of the supporters.

“You have to accept it. I totally accept it. It is on me ultimately you know, 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.”