Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup as boos rang out at Old Trafford on another damaging night for Michael Carrick.

Brighton were 2-0 down and reeling 10 minutes in after goals from Shea Lacey, marking his first start, and Mason Mount. 

United had never lost from the previous 145 games when 2-0 up at Old Trafford but there was a nervousness in the air, not least when Charalampos Kostoulas made it 2-1 just before half-time.

Carrick’s side never got a grip on this topsy-turvy game thereafter and goals from Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper condemned United to a Carabao Cup exit at the first attempt for the second successive season. 

Daily Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT gives his verdict on Carrick’s charges as they bow out of the Carabao Cup…

Brighton produced yet another emphatic performance here at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup

Michael Carrick looked furious on the touchline at the end as Manchester United crashed out

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)

Karl Darlow – 5

Senne Lammens provides a calmness that others can build off but Darlow seemed to do the opposite on his United debut. Was far too indecisive in coming for Jaouen Hadjam’s through ball that Charalampos Kostoulas scored from. Too often seemed to get his positioning wrong but made a crucial stop late on to keep United in the game for a bit longer.

Diogo Dalot – 4

Never quite got to grips with Brighton’s threat down his side and was given a warning when he switched off and didn’t track the run when Malick Yalcouye ran through the lines to be clear on goal, only to shoot wide. His reckless and aimless hooked clearance left United all at sea for Brighton to score their second goal. An experienced player who didn’t use his experience with so much youth surrounding him.

Leny Yoro – 5

Only his second start of season and this wasn’t a ringing endorsement for more. The young Frenchman did make a number of key interceptions in the first half but neither he nor Heaven looks like the vocal leader in the Harry Maguire mould that any good partnership needs. Looked all at sea for Brighton’s third goal. Deserves some credit for the crucial block he made to stop a near-certain goal with 10 minutes to go.

Ayden Heaven – 4

A very difficult night. Was caught in two minds when both he and Darlow hesitated on the stroke of half-time for Brighton to get their first, found himself way too far from Yoro to leave a gaping hole for the second and was not alert to the danger for the third as he missed the key challenge when Noussair Mazraoui had already blown his assignment.

Ayden Heaven endured a difficult night as Brighton came from 2-0 down to win it 3-2

Noussair Mazraoui – 5

Took a nasty whack from Costinha 20 minutes in and required lengthy treatment but carried on. Plays left back for Morocco and was doing OK here before his deficiencies showed and Brighton exposed his lack of pace for the decisive third goal.

Youri Tielemans – 7

Wearing the captain’s armband, Tielemans came out of this as United’s best player, albeit not a high bar to clear. His vision picked out Lacey for the opening goal and he worked hard at the other end when he made a brilliant last-ditch challenge on Kostoulas late in the first half to deny a goal. Showed some pieces of skill that were highlight worthy, but again like Dalot, Carrick needed to see an experienced player do more to stop the bleeding in a game like this.

Andrey Santos – 5

Had played less than 45 minutes since starting away at Hull City having fallen down the pecking order. This was a rare opportunity and while the Brazilian did make some key interceptions, this wasn’t a performance that exactly made a compelling case for regular starts.

Shea Lacey – 6

A magic moment for a special young player. Lacey was making his first career start for United and netted, in typical Lacey fashion for those who watched him in the academy, his first senior goal, a stunner. Produced a brilliant spin move on the touchline to bamboozle Hadjam, who got a booking for dragging him down. Faded slightly but a bright spot on another grim night.

Shea Lacey became the first United teenager in a decade to score on their first start

Mason Mount – 5

Scored the second goal of the game in smart fashion by crashing an effort into the ground and then the roof of the net. But on a night where he had every chance to take control of a game in the No 10 position that is forever locked down by Bruno Fernandes, Mount became a non-factor after the goal. The disappointment on his face when he came off said it all.

Marcus Rashford – 6

Gave Costinha nightmares and his pace is such a valuable weapon to United. But he had the chance to equalise when through one on one. He looked offside but no flag came and it was a wonder save by Steele to deny him. A player of Rashford’s quality has to score that, though. Was a defining moment on the night.

Benjamin Sesko – 4

Did produce some clever touches to bring team-mates into play and was inches away from nicking the ball past an onrushing Steele as Brighton’s back-pass attempt fell short before the hour. But he didn’t manage a single effort on goal in 65 minutes before coming off on a rough night. It doesn’t feel like he or United know how to get the best out of him.

MANAGER: Michael Carrick – 4

Turn that pressure dial up a notch. He demanded more intensity from his players as this one got away from them and by the end he had his stars out there trying to salvage a cup run. It was all in vain and the noise around his position only gets louder from here.

SUBS

Kobbie Mainoo (for Andrey Santos, 65) – 6

Bryan Mbeumo (for Shea Lacey, 65) – 6

Joshua Zirkzee (for Benjamin Sesko) – 5

Bruno Fernandes (for Mason Mount, 73) – 6

Matheus Cunha (for Marcus Rashford, 82)

Matheus Cunha and Bruno Fernandes were unable to rescue the tie as United crashed out

Brighton (4-3-3)

Steele 7; Costinha 5, Struijk 6, Vuskovic 5, Hadjam 6 (Kadioglu 74, 6); Boscagli 6(Ayari 74, 6), Gross 8, Chema 6; O’Riley 7 (Gomez 66, 7), Kostoulas 7 (Routtar 82), Yalcouye 6 (De Cuyper 66, 7)

Goals: Kostoulas (45+1), Gross (65), De Cuyper (69)

Booked: Chema, Hadjam, Ayari

Manager: Fabian Hurzeler 8

Referee: Farai Hallam 7

Att: 73,670