Erik ten Hag criticised the performance of referee Andre Marriner after Manchester United lost 1-0 to Brighton. Alexis Mac Allister struck a 99th-minute penalty after Luke Shaw handled from a corner but Ten Hag and Shaw were adamant the Brighton forward Julio Enciso should not have received a free-kick which led to the pivotal corner.
Ten Hag also accused Marriner, who sent off Casemiro against Crystal Palace in the only other United match he has officiated this season, of failing to clamp down on Brighton’s tactical fouling.
Erik Ten Hag said: “He (Shaw) played very well but the annoying thing is the free-kick before is never a free-kick and I have seen really bad tackles today, sometimes without whistles as well. Every attack you make with perspective they kick you and then it’s a block but a fair block, it’s a free-kick, it’s a corner. Then, of course, disappointed, handball, dying seconds and you can’t react anymore. It’s not about me to give a judgement about the referee. We lost this game, we made a mistake in the end, we did not take our chances but, as I said, there are some disappointments.”
Ten Hag rued United’s profligacy – a recurring theme of their campaign – after Antony struck wide with a one-on-one in the second minute before Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were foiled by Jadon Steele. United have won one of their nine away games against the other current top 10 in the Premier League table.
Erik ten Hag added: “Every defeat is a disappointment but in the end when you lose in the last seconds that is of course, annoying, and I think the first minute sums everything up. We created a good chance, we were not clinical enough, then in the attack after we concede a big chance by a giveaway from us (when Victor Lindelof’s pass was intercepted by Kaoru Mitoma), a ball in the head of David (de Gea). In the end, we also gave away the goal. It’s annoying because if you can’t win because you don’t finish your opportunities then don’t lose.”
