Carrick urges Man Utd 'to find answers' after Brighton collapse

Michael Carrick urged Manchester United "to find answers" after the "big disappointment" of their collapse against Brighton.

United were jeered off by large parts of Old Trafford after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday.

Goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount inside 10 minutes seemed to give United a perfect response to Sunday's contentious 1-0 defeat to 10-man rivals Manchester City.

However, Charalampos Kostoulas pulled one back before half-time and played a significant role in Maxim De Cuyper's 69th-minute winner after Pascal Gross had equalised five minutes earlier.

That collapse saw United lose at Old Trafford after leading by two or more goals for the first time since September 1976 when they were downed 3-2 by Tottenham.

With just one win in four Premier League games, Carrick is desperate for his side to respond when they visit Fulham at Craven Cottage in Sunday's top-flight clash.

"We can't change that. It's done. We've got to keep evolving as a group," the United boss told BBC's 5 Live.

"We have to keep learning and dealing with situations. Sometimes they come a bit easier than others. That's up to me and the staff to help the players and guide them through it.

"I think we all know that in the end tonight feels like a big disappointment. We have to find the answers for Sunday."

Carrick suggested his team could be looking at an entirely different picture, if not for Ainsley Maitland-Niles' stunning last-gasp equaliser for Everton on September 6, and Erling Haaland's winner for Man City that Pro Ref has since said should not have stood.

"We've had small, little things that have gone against us in the last week or two and then it accumulates to feel that it's a lot bigger," he added. 

"I think we have to be honest and say that. The late goal against Everton from outside the box. The City goal the other day.

"It can all of a sudden roll into something a bit greater but I understand the disappointment because we shouldn't finish the game in that manner with the position we were in and we have to be humble and take that."

Further disappointment in the EFL Cup, after they were knocked out by League Two's Grimsby Town on penalties in the second round last year, somewhat overshadowed a memorable debut for Lacey.

The 19-year-old marked his first start for United with a maiden goal just eight minutes in, slamming past Jason Steele after stand-in captain Youri Tielemans offloaded into Brighton's box.

Lacey became the first teenager to score on their first start for United since an 18-year-old Marcus Rashford against Midtjylland in February 2016.

"It seems a long time ago now but the start of the game was fantastic. It was everything we hoped for, even more really, in some ways in Shea getting his goal," Carrick said.

"We ended up with a pretty disappointing night. It's obvious for me to say that. We accept that.

"We can't be in a position like that and lose the game in that manner. I'll understand the disappointments and frustrations. I accept that. That's on me. It'll need to be better than that."