Erik ten Hag admits Manchester United’s last-gasp defeat by Brighton is ‘annoying”

Erik ten Hag bemoaned an ‘annoying’ last-gasp loss at Brighton as Manchester United‘s Champions League hopes suffered a setback.

Seagulls midfielder Alexis Mac Allister slammed dwelling from the penalty spot within the ninth minute of added time after Luke Shaw’s inexplicable handball was punished following VAR intervention.

The dramatic 1-0 defeat on the Amex Stadium dented United’s top-four aspirations, leaving them solely 4 factors above fifth-placed Liverpool, albeit with a sport in hand.

Ten Hag conceded his facet contributed to their very own downfall throughout a pulsating south-coast conflict.

The Dutchman felt an action-packed opening by which Antony wasted a golden likelihood earlier than goalkeeper David De Gea was flattened when denying Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma together with his face following a poor go from Victor Lindelof encapsulated the frustration.

The United boss felt Brighton ought to by no means have been a place to be awarded a late penalty

A purpose within the ninth minute of added time helped the Seagulls see off United on the Amex

‘Each defeat is a disappointment however in the long run whenever you lose within the final second, that’s after all annoying,’ stated United boss Ten Hag.

‘And I feel the primary minute sums every thing up. We create a very good likelihood, we weren’t medical sufficient, then within the assault after we concede an enormous likelihood by a giveaway from us, the ball on the top for David.

‘And in the long run, we additionally gave away the purpose and that is annoying as a result of if you cannot win since you do not end your alternatives then do not lose.’

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

The 2 sides had been every proven 4 yellow playing cards throughout the course of a gripping encounter.

Ten Hag was sad with a few of Brighton’s challenges and in addition bemoaned a free-kick award within the build-up to referee Andre Marriner pointing to the spot after viewing Shaw’s handball on the pitch-side monitor.

‘The annoying factor is that the free-kick earlier than (the nook) is rarely a free-kick and I’ve seen actually unhealthy tackles right now, generally with out whistles as nicely,’ he stated.

‘Each assault you make, they kick you after which from a good block it is a free-kick and it is a nook after which it is a disappointing handball within the dying seconds and you may’t react any extra.

United wasted good possibilities to win the sport with Anthony Martial wasteful in entrance of purpose

It was a fiery encounter on the south coast as gamers from each side clashed

Defeat means United nonetheless have work to do to clinch a Champions League place for subsequent season

‘It is not about me to offer a judgement concerning the ref. We misplaced this sport, we make a mistake in the long run and we did not take our possibilities however after all there are some disappointments.’

Brighton’s win partially avenged the spot-kick heartache they suffered by the hands of their opponents within the FA Cup semi-finals simply 11 days in the past and accomplished a league double over United.

Victory for Roberto De Zerbi’s males lifted them to sixth within the desk, above Tottenham and Aston Villa, and 4 factors behind Jurgen Klopp’s fifth-placed Reds with two extra video games remaining.

Head coach De Zerbi, who overcame sickness to steer the Seagulls to success, stated: ‘We deserved to win right now, we deserved to win within the semi-final. In case you play nicely, it may occur one time you lose however in the long run you win, my expertise in soccer says it is like this. I really feel higher with the victory. I am wasted!’