Oh we don't like to be beside the seaside!

REDS SUFFER MORE WOE ON TRIP TO BRIGHTON

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

THE United players avoided a rendition of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt, but they could not avoid defeat at Brighton again.

The Reds have a new manager and new players - only four starters lined up for the 4-0 drubbing at the Amex last May. But 362 days on from last season's nadir, Brighton continue to have the hex over United.

One win in 11 against the top 12; eight of them defeats. This was one of United's bitterest, lost deep into stoppage-time, the period they are renowned for snatching victories.

Now the Reds' Premier League season is in danger of collapsing at the final hurdle. Liverpool are breathing down their necks, four points behind, and United only have one game in hand, to be played in the final week of the campaign.

Luke Shaw had not put a foot wrong all night and then raised his hand, the ball grazing it from a corner kick nine minutes into injury time.

It was missed by the referee but as soon as Andre Marriner approached the monitor after being prompted by VAR, the Reds defender knew the outcome.

Just as predictable was that David de Gea would be beaten from 12 yards. Alexis Mac Allister, the first to convert in the FA Cup semi-final shoot-out last month, did so again.

United have still not won at the Amex Stadium with a crowd present, their three wins within three months in 2020 coming at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was not another supine surrender at a ground where they conceded seven goals in their past two losses, but they ceded any authority they had.

For the fourth time, Moises Caicedo bossed United's midfield and again Erik ten Hag's game management was awry.