Brighton fights back as Man Utd falls apart

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After a contentious 1-0 defeat to 10-man Manchester City left United with just one win from four Premier League games, Michael Carrick’s side responded three days later by racing into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes.

However, Charalampos Kostoulas led the turnaround with a goal and a key role in Maxim De Cuyper's winner as United followed up a second-round exit last season to Grimsby Town with more disappointment.

Shea Lacey needed just eight minutes to score his first senior goal for United on his maiden start, receiving from Youri Tielemans on the right of the area before hammering past an unsighted Jason Steele.

Mason Mount doubled United’s lead just two minutes later, bouncing a rebound finish over the stranded Steele after Marcus Rashford was denied, but Brighton were on top from that point on.

Malick Yalcouye whipped wide in response after being played in behind by Pascal Gross, who then thrashed over from close range shortly after.

However, Kostoulas reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time – he coolly converted past Karl Darlow after Jaouen Hadjam’s deep cross caught United’s backline out.

Brighton found a leveller just past the hour when Luka Vuskovic intercepted Diogo Dalot’s pass and headed towards the area for Gross, who finished with ease past Darlow.

The turnaround was complete five minutes later when Kostoulas raced down United’s right and his deflected cut-back fell for substitute De Cuyper to convert from near the six-yard box.

Steele produced an eye-catching stop to deny Rashford after Bruno Fernandes freed the United forward, before De Cuyper volleyed over and Dalot denied Yasin Ayari’s goal-bound effort.

Gross continued to run the show, teeing up Diego Gomez to fire straight at Darlow, but that did not matter as Brighton enjoyed more success on the red side of Manchester.