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EPL PHOTOS: Manchester United STUNNED by Brighton

August 20, 2018 00:12 IST

Brighton and Hove Albion's Shane Duffy celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Manchester United during their English Premier League match at American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, United Kingdom, on Sunday

IMAGE: Brighton and Hove Albion's Shane Duffy celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Manchester United during their English Premier League match at American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, United Kingdom, on Sunday. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Manchester United's troubled start to the season took another unexpected twist as they lost limply 3-2 at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday with manager Jose Mourinho admitting they were punished for making too many mistakes.

 

Woeful defending led to two Brighton goals in two first-half minutes as 34-year-old Glenn Murray and Shane Duffy outsmarted United's 117 million pound ($149.21 million) back four to demonstrate why manager Jose Mourinho had sought to upgrade it.

Eric Bailly was particularly exposed and, having conceded a needless corner that led to Duffy's first Premier League goal, he blundered in to foul Pascal Gross, who put away the penalty via David de Gea's leg on the stroke of halftime.

Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku scores his team's first goal against Brighton & Hove Albion

IMAGE: Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku scores his team's first goal against Brighton & Hove Albion. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Although Romelu Lukaku had earlier reduced the deficit with a trademark header, United looked ill-equipped to mount a comeback and were often second best to the ball.

Paul Pogba's injury-time penalty, after Marouane Fellaini was brought down, made the scoreline closer than the match itself with Mourinho admitting that his side deserved to lose.

"We made big mistakes and were punished," said Mourinho, although he refused to criticise individuals.

"The accumulation of those mistakes, and the fact that they were punished by goals, gave confidence to Brighton and took it away from us."

Manchester United's Victor Lindelof collides with Brighton and Hove Albion's Glenn Murray

IMAGE: Manchester United's Victor Lindelof collides with Brighton and Hove Albion's Glenn Murray. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Brighton's Murray said their 3-1 home win over United last season gave them confidence that could spring another surprise.

"It was all about the balls being played in to me, I got quality support," said the striker.

Mourinho had started with Anthony Martial but the winger, who is reported to be unsettled at the club, made little impact even when Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford were brought on at halftime in an attempt to give United more of a threat up front.

Source: REUTERS
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