Manchester United 1-2 Brighton recap: Erik ten Hag era gets off to torrid start as Pascal Gross punishes sloppy hosts

The Ten Hag era at Manchester United is one that will need time and, once again, financial backing in the transfer window. The process and task facing the new manager was made a lot harder by an opening day defeat and he is under no illusions that he will results to bring the supporter onside.

"Definitely a set back. It's a real disappointment and we have to deal with that," Ten Hag told Sky Sports. "I knew from the start that it will not be easy and it's a process which takes time but you don't have time, we have to win games. We should have done better.

Answering a question about Ronaldo's impact from the bench, he said: "It was clear to see that we were better in midfield in the second half with Christian Eriksen down and Cristiano Ronaldo up then we created [chances] and Rashford had two really good chances. It's a pity that we didn't score them to make it 2-2.

On Ronaldo's fitness after missing pre-season: "You cannot force it. One week in training, a little bit more now and he has to do more to get fit, this game will help him. Now we have a week and he will be better next week"

Away from Old Trafford, Leicester also stuttered in their first game of the season. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's long-range strike put them 2-0 up seconds after half-time but they were pegged back by goals from Ivan Toney and Josh DaSilva as they shared the points with Brentford.

In today's other fixture, Manchester City and West Ham have not long kicked off at the London Stadium. At the time of writing (Six minutes and 30 seconds into the match), the deadlock is yet to have broken.

Harry Maguire continues to be trusted with the captaincy by Ten Hag but yet again, the United skipper had to come out and face the tough questions following a below-par performance.

He told Sky Sports: "The result's disappointing, the worst possible start to be 2-0 at half-time at Old Trafford. It wasn't good enough, we huffed and puffed and we got one back, we had chances to equalise but it's a bad start for us.

"I think we actually started the game pretty well, we started on the front foot, we were the team who had control of the game and then we conceded the first goal which knocked us back really badly.

"We stopped playing from then, they got a lot of control in the game so we need to look at not letting that first goal set us back as much as it did. We've got to be better on the ball, we've gave the ball away too much in that first half, especially after the first goal and we gave them encouragement to come forward and attack us.

"It was a nightmare start to be 2-0 down at half-time."

Ronaldo might not have scored when he came on today but he should have finished the game with an assist. His perfectly-weighted cross for Rashford should have been converted (permitting the offside decision had been overturned) and that would have given half an hour for the hosts to find an equaliser.

Before his introduction, Ten Hag's side were desperately missing a focal point with Eriksen struggling to make a strong impression in the false nine role. Based on today's performance, United's new boss will have to strongly consider starting Ronaldo away at Brentford next Saturday. That is, unless the 37-year-old gets the move he has been hoping for in the meantime.

(Photo: Getty Images)

From the outside looking in, there wasn't much optimism for Brighton this afternoon, and for the rest of this season. Having lost Cucurella and Bissouma to Tottenham and Chelsea respectively, many were worried how the Seagulls would cope.

Within about half an hour at Old Trafford, they showed that they'd cope just fine. It was a performance typical of what we have seen from Brighton in the last couple of seasons but somehow, even better.

Potter will continue to be one of the most highly-rated managers in the division if his side maintain this level of performance.

There were brilliant performances all over the pitch for Brighton today but Gross was the hero with two more goals against Manchester United. Speaking after the match, he told Sky Sports how he and his team mates executed the perfect gameplan.

"We can't ask for much more, three points away from home against Manchester United in their first home game. It's a big win for us today," he claimed. "I think we played really well. The gameplan was really good and we stuck to it. Away from home, we had our chances and were clinical in front of goal."

When asked why six of his 19 Premier League have come against the Red Devils, Gross said: "I don't know, I would love to score more goals against other teams but always against Manchester United, I don't know why!"

FT Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

Paul Tierney brings an end to a famous victory for Brighton, their first ever win at Old Trafford in the Premier League. The Seagulls were, by far, the better team throughout and their victory would have been more comfortable had Sanchez not made a mess of a pretty standard corner kick.

A pair of goals from Gross ultimately decided the result.

(Photo; Getty Images)

90+3' Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

This is a perfect lesson in game management from the visitors. They have been able to spend three of the five added on minute holding the ball in the corner in front of the travelling fans who are, understandably, in full voice.

Welbeck is replaced by new boy Undav to waste a few more seconds.

87' Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

There will be a sense of inevitability for the Brighton fans watching on this afternoon. They will feel as though an equaliser is on its way for their opponents.

Lewis Dunk has just thrown himself in front of Martinez's goalbound shot, what a block!

83' Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

Late goals have long been associated with games at Old Trafford but Ten Hag's side are running out of time. Brighton have really taken the sting out of the game in the last few minutes and actually look the more likely to score.

Their ability to keep the ball is absolutely murdering the momentum United were starting to build.

78' Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

The noise has been cranked up several decibels inside Old Trafford and the hosts are hungry for an equaliser.

Meanwhile, Mwepu and Lamptey are on for Trossard and Lallana for the visitors while Van de Beek has replaced McTominay in the other dug out.

72' Manchester United 1-2 Brighton

The scoresheet will state that the United goal came off MacAllister but certainly wasn't his fault. Sanchez made a right mess of clearing the corner and, had he then steered clear of the ball, MacAllister may have been able to clear the danger. Alas, the pair were unable to keep it out of their own net.

(Photo: Getty Images)

66' Manchester United 0-2 Brighton

This has been far from the start to the season that Rashford will have been hoping for. After missing a sitter earlier in the second half, he is picked out by Fernandes at the back post but gets his finish all wrong, skying high into the Stretford End.

64' Manchester United 0-2 Brighton

Every Brighton pass is being met by an 'Olé' from the away end. If that doesn't sum up the game from a Manchester United perspective, I really don't know what will.