Old Trafford turns on Manchester United and Erik ten Hag as Brighton thump Red Devils

Manchester United fans turned on the squad after a 3-1 defeat to Brighton. Well, those that were left did anyway.

Boos rained down at Old Trafford after a stunning win for the Seagulls in which they played the home team off of the park.

United were torn apartGetty

Fans said an early goodbye

So comprehensive was the victory, that a number had already left with the score 3-0, only to miss a wonderful consolation from Hannibal Mejbri.

Consolation is a stretch, though, with the story a complete home capitulation to extend a worrying start to the campaign.

Much like against Arsenal last time out, fans were celebrating what could have been with a Rasmus Hojlund equaliser, but like Alejandro Garnacho’s apparent winner against the Gunners, VAR got involved.

Instead of feeling wronged and responding, it was Brighton who took the impetus, with Pascal Gross adding to Danny Welbeck’s opener with a shift of his shoulder killing the defence before slotting in.

Marcus Rashford’s cross for Hojlund’s equaliser was adjudged to have crossed the line by VARTNT Sports

Soon after Gross kidded the United defence and fired in

“They’re going to have to let Lisandro Martinez back into the stadium after that,” said talkSPORT’s Perry Groves, with the Argentine centre back all over the shop.

Next up there wasn’t anyone to embarrass, with Tariq Lamptey given the freedom of Manchester to run into plenty of space and pick out Joao Pedro to end the match.

“The defenders jogged back,” Groves said. “Brighton are that good, they’ll just play around you.”

If Martinez had already been sent packing, the rest of the team had too, and fans started joining them.

Rashford and his teammates showed their full-time anguishGetty

Cameras picked up the home support heading for the turnstiles, having already seen enough, despite it being their first home Premier League defeat in 21 games.

The last was against Brighton 13 months ago, and despite squad turnover, little seems to have really changed, with off the pitch distractions adding to a malaise on the pitch and in the dugout.

Last time it happened, Erik ten Hag got things straight, worked his magic, and third place and a cup win followed.

This time, things are looking far more serious.