Erik ten Hag bemoans Manchester United's 'annoying' loss to Brighton

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said it was "annoying" to see his side concede a last-gasp winner to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, a defeat that leaves them looking over their shoulder to secure a Champions League place.

Alexis Mac Allister slammed home a penalty in the ninth minute of time added on to seal a famous win for the Seagulls that pushed them up to sixth in the Premier League table, four points behind fifth-placed Liverpool but with two games in hand.

The 1-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium dented United’s top-four aspirations, leaving them only four points above Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.

Ten Hag conceded his side contributed to their own downfall during a pulsating south-coast clash.

The Dutchman felt an action-packed opening in which Antony wasted a golden chance before goalkeeper David De Gea was flattened when denying Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma with his face following a poor pass from Victor Lindelof encapsulated the frustration.

“Every defeat is a disappointment but in the end when you lose in the last second, that is of course annoying,” said United boss Ten Hag.

“And I think the first minute sums everything up. We create a good chance, we were not clinical enough, then in the attack after we concede a big chance by a giveaway from us, the ball on the head for David.

“And in the end, we also gave away the goal and that’s annoying because if you can’t win because you don’t finish your opportunities then don’t lose.”

With plenty at stake in the battle for continental qualification, rival players clashed in a heated second half after Antony’s crude challenge on Mac Allister sparked a mass brawl.

The two sides were each shown four yellow cards across the course of a gripping encounter.