Erik Ten Hag suffers defeat in first Premier League match in charge after Pascal Gross first-half double

“Can we play you every week,” enquired Brighton’s merry fans after Pascal Gross’s first exploited abject United defending. “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” they serenaded Erik ten Hag even before Gross’s second goal again highlighted the myriad problems that United’s new manager has inherited. Welcome to Manchester United.

Ten Hag’s new team were booed off at the break and at the end. His technical director, Darren Fletcher, marched from the analysts’ seats through the press section with a look of thunder at the interval. Only when Cristiano Ronaldo came on seven minutes into the second half did United raise their game.

Brighton had some difficult moments after that, and Alexis Mac Allister conceded an own goal, but they deserved their first win ever at