Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his disappointment after his team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford, prompting a chorus of boos from the home crowd at the final whistle.
Despite enjoying strong support from United fans, Ten Hag faced criticism for his decision to substitute Rasmus Hojlund with Anthony Martial 19 minutes into the second half. The crowd's displeasure was evident, but they also applauded Hojlund as he left the pitch.
Unfortunately for United, the change didn't alter their fortunes, as they were already trailing due to a first-half goal from Danny Welbeck, followed by strikes from Pascal Gross and substitute Joao Pedro in the second half.
Hannibal Mejbri managed to pull one back for United with his first goal for the club, offering a glimmer of hope. However, it was Brighton that came closest to scoring again, with goalkeeper Andre Onana making four crucial saves, including one in injury time to deny Ansu Fati a debut goal.
This loss marked Manchester United's first home defeat in over a year, with Brighton repeating their triumph at Old Trafford from the previous season. The Seagulls have now secured four consecutive Premier League wins against the Red Devils.
Ten Hag acknowledged his team's defensive struggles, with United conceding 10 goals in their last four matches and conceding more than one goal in four consecutive league games for the first time since 1979. He admitted: "We have to improve that. There are things from the team and individuals who have to step up."
Despite the disappointing result and crowd reaction, Ten Hag maintained a positive outlook, stating: "We can't blame anyone else, we have to do better and be more determined, more resilient."
Regarding the crowd's response to the substitution of Hojlund, Ten Hag praised the fans, saying: "I think it was very good. Hojlund - the crowd embraced his performance. First performance at Old Trafford, so it's very good that he gets that reception. He performed very well, and we're very happy."