Manchester United’s positive start to the season lasted just one game as Brighton sucker-punched them late on to go away with a 2-1 victory.
It was a fairly even contest which Manchester United arguably should have even won courtesy of Alejandro Garnacho’s ‘goal’ that never was, but ultimately their profligacy finally came back to bite them.
They conceded two bad goals out of nowhere and Ten Hag’s men can only have themselves to blame for another forgettable result vs the Seagulls.
Phil Jones, who recently announced his retirement and moved into coaching, noticed a pattern to both the goals conceded by United and it’s one that must be addressed immediately.
Phil Jones decodes United’s conceded goals
United were given the first blow by academy man Danny Welbeck, who ghosted between the defence to prod home Kaoru Mitoma’s cross at the goal line.
There were multiple breakdowns in communications but Jones said it was a ‘soft goal’ to concede because nobody picked the ball up in the second phase.
For the second, Joao Pedro found himself in an ocean of space in the United box and could have built a tent and then headed home the winner.
Jones said it was a poor goal but one pattern emerged, as he said it was the failure of the second phase again.
He said: “It was a great ball in and it bounced just before Harry Maguire, he has left the ball and no one has picked it up in the second phase. A soft goal to concede [the first one].
“[The second goal] is from the second phase again. The corner comes in and Man Utd have switched off, they are not looking around to see where the Brighton players are. It is another poor goal to concede.”
A teething problem
It cost United twice, but the problem of United not dealing well with the second balls was prevalent throughout the game.
They seemed like they were second to every duel as Brighton, buoyed by the home crowd kept their intensity up for the whole 90.
United players were rushed on the ball and the way Brighton set up, with an extremely high line and a compact shape between the lines, there was nowhere to go for United.
Because Brighton’s players were so close to each other, second balls seemed to end up with Brighton nine times out of ten.
A part of it was down to a lack of communication as well, as nobody was there to pick up the cross as it went from one winger to another for Brighton’s first goal.
Welbeck’s header hit the crossbar as well before United drew level and it was another case of communication breakdown.
United are currently wasting chances to score but at least creating some. However, if they combine that with defensive breakdowns, the path ahead could be thorny.
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