'Shambolic and dismal' - National media scathing of Manchester United after Brighton defeat

Manchester United's plight continued as they slipped to a meek defeat to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

It took the visitors all of 20 minutes to open the scoring when Danny Welbeck, back on his old patch, slotted home after a lovely dummy put the ball on a plate for him. Rasmus Hojlund appeared to equalise with his first goal for the club but VAR showed Marcus Rashford had run out of play in the build-up.

United couldn't build on the positive play after the break when Pascal Gross easily outsmarted Lisandro Martinez to slot home the second before Joao Pedro scored a fantastic third. Hannibal Mejbri pulled one back with a brilliant strike but it wasn't enough to prevent a fourth Premier League loss in succession to Brighton.

ALSO READ: Fans reaction to Hojlund decision gives Ten Hag a new problem

ALSO READ: United player ratings vs Brighton

Unsurprisingly, the national press has been scathing of United's lacklustre performance and here's what some of them had to say.

The Guardian

“Can we play you every week,” sang the delirious Brighton fans, whose team moved Manchester United to near crisis territory with this breeze of a victory.

Roberto De Zerbi’s XI cost a cool £17m (he made six changes from the 3-1 win against Newcastle), Erik ten Hag’s an eye-watering £347m. Yet this was United’s third defeat from five outings – greeted with jeers by the home support – and a second on the bounce. They have six points from a possible 15 and if they lose at Burnley next Saturday, United are engulfed in a plight not in the early season script.

Brighton, rightly, ended the game cock-a-hoop. Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and João Pedro scored for the visitors who were threatened only sporadically apart from the opening