Manchester United's game model is benefiting one of their signings

Manchester United's flight back from Brighton was delayed by two hours on Saturday. Their season is yet to take off.

There are three glaring issues with United: their attackers don't score, there midfield is nigh-on non-existent and their defenders cannot see out games. Joao Pedro's header was the seventh added-time winner United have conceded under Erik ten Hag.

They have also suffered draws that felt like a defeat against Crystal Palace, Sevilla, Brentford and Coventry City. Ten Hag bristled at the suggestion their game management was inept.

"I think we also often did the right things," he stated, "that we often had success. For instance, when we win the trophies and there were many other big games we take the points. On this occasion today we should do better.

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"On many occasions we have done very good in situations where we brought the score over the line and take the result."

Ten Hag dined alone in Hale on Sunday. Even with a teeming brains trust in the dugout to support him he will have felt lonely in the technical area in the 95th minute at Brighton.

His in-game management brought upon United's collapse. Replacing Bruno Fernandes for Scott McTominay when the United captain's influence was growing was illogical and so was the unenforced withdrawal of Harry Maguire for Matthijs de Ligt. It is an unwritten rule in management not to disrupt your back four in-game. Antony's sole impact was to concede a cynical foul.

McTominay was the right substitute for the wrong man. Kobbie Mainoo has looked weary since his return and Casemiro is on his last legs. Somehow, both