Lack of transfers is an issue but Erik ten Hag's decision backfired in Manchester United's defeat to Brighton

Pascal Gross tapped in to score past Manchester United under their fourth different manager. Gross then struck again for Brighton. Gross again for United.

There were boos at the pause. Dumbfounded United supporters stood, their arms crossed, puffing their cheeks. The reactions were identical at full-time. New season, old United.

John Murtough, the football director, and chief executive Richard Arnold stared stoically from the directors' box. Darren Fletcher and the goalkeeping coaches had to run the gauntlet and mingle with supporters as they were relocated to the stands with the analysts. Fletcher wisely headed inside two minutes before the final shrill.

Read more: United player ratings vs Brighton

The co-chairman, Avram Glazer, had even crossed the Atlantic. "We want Glazers out" was aired long before Gross struck and the downbeat mood among United supporters has only been exacerbated.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. The current United squad is Europa League fodder and will be staring up at the Champions League coterie in May without quality reinforcements. The propitious pre-season was misleading, as it was in 2014. In the post-Ferguson era, the only United managers not to win their first match in charge have been Dutch.

The crowd sighed at Scott McTominay's superfluous flick and the dawdling Luke Shaw had to be advised to spring with Danny Welbeck. There were groans of exasperation at Marcus Rashford. An auspicious August this is not.

After the diabolical debacle at the Amex Stadium in May, United should not have needed reminding you cannot meander against Brighton yet they did. Brighton, now devoid of Yves Bissouma and Marc Cucurella, still have a set playing style and structure under one of the league's most