Analysis of Man Utd player performances against Brighton: Rashford disappoints in Ten Hag's debut match with late loss

Manchester United suffered a heartbreaking loss to Brighton as Joao Pedro scored a dramatic injury-time goal to seal a 2-1 victory for the home team against Erik ten Hag's squad.

United went behind after the half-hour mark when former United striker Danny Welbeck poked home Kaoru Mitoma’s low cross.

The Red Devils found their equaliser after the break when Amad Diallo’s deflected shot squirted past Jason Steele but then saw a potential winner unusually ruled out when Alejandro Garnacho’s effort deflected off Joshua Zirkzee’s knee on the goal line.

And Ten Hag’s side were made to pay in the dying moments when Joao Pedro – unmarked at the back post – nodded home past Andre Onana to hand new manager Fabian Hurzeler his second Premier League win in as many games.

Here is how Metro.co.uk rated the performances of each United player.

Andre Onana – 6

Could not have done much about either Brighton goal but his long-range distribution was excellent, especially in the first half, to allow United to get up the pitch quickly.

Noussair Mazraoui – 7

Another positive display for the summer signing who, by and large, kept Kaoru Mitoma quiet down the United right flank. Looks far more confident in possession than his predecessor Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Harry Maguire – 6

Should have done better and cleared the initial cross for Welbeck’s goal. let James Milner surge past him far too easily to get a good effort on goal after the break.

Matthijs de Ligt, who replaced him from the bench in the second half, must surely get a chance to impress from the start soon.

Lisandro Martinez – 6

Look composed on the ball but let Welbeck ghost behind him for the opener and was nowhere to be seen for Joao Pedro’s winner.

Diogo Dalot – 7

A superb delivery with his weak foot to create an early chance for Amad in the first half.

Solid and dependable down the left flank and superbly positioned to clear Milner’s effort off the line in the second half but was nowhere to be seen at the far post in the dying moments as Joao Pedro thumped home the winning goal.

Casemiro – 6

Starting promisingly but faded towards the end of the second half. Clear issues still remain over his long-term future in United’s central midfield.

Kobbie Mainoo – 6

Hasn’t got quite up and running this season and didn’t look like his usual energetic self. Perhaps a hangover from his lengthy summer away with England at Euro 2024.

Amad Diallo – 7

A game of two halves for the winger. Spurned United’s best chance of the first half and made a few bad decisions when his side had promising positions on the counterattack but redeemed himself after the break with the equaliser and looked like a constant threat thereafter.

Amad Diallo secures the equaliser and Man Utd are level 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vW2UHQdK3t

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024Mason Mount – 6

Subbed off at half-time after what felt like one of the more positive 45 minutes of his otherwise disappointing United career so far. A few nice touches to get his side on the front foot before stinging Jason Steele’s palms with an effort from the edge of the box

Marcus Rashford – 5

Saw his first-half goal ruled out by VAR for offside but an otherwise quiet display from the Englishman who was taken off shortly into the second half.

Still plenty of work to be done to get back to his best.

Bruno Fernandes – 6

Looked far better in the second half after the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee allowed him to play deeper. But in a lung-busting run to provide what he thought was an assist for Alejandro Garnacho’s winner before the goal was unusually chalked off for offside.

Substituted shortly after for Scott McTominay, with United then struggling to find the same attacking fluency.

Alejandro Garnacho scores for Man Utd but it’s disallowed for one of the tightest offsides you’ll see 🫣 pic.twitter.com/wVw1UicyZu

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 24, 2024Substitutes

Joshua Zirkzee (Mount 46′) – 6

Came off the bench once again but struggled to make a similar impact. Was extremely unfortunate to get a touch on the line to rule out Garnacho’s goal.

Alejandro Garnacho (Rashford 65′) – 6

An instant impact when replacing Rashford off the bench and was cruelly denied a goal in bizarre fashion. Must surely be in line to start in the coming weeks.

Scott McTominay (Rashford 79′) – 6

Matthijs de Light (Maguire 79) – 6

Antony (Amad Diallo) – N/A

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