Manchester United defenders Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven were labelled 'inept' following their performances in the Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, as the team surrendered a two-goal lead in a 3-2 collapse at Old Trafford. The result saw loud boos ring around the stadium, increasing pressure on manager Michael Carrick.
United's early lead evaporates
Shea Lacey scored his first goal for the club after eight minutes, with Mason Mount adding a second just two minutes later. Brighton pulled one back through Charalampos Kostoulas just before half-time, and Pascal Gross equalised after 65 minutes. The visitors then scored a third four minutes later to complete the turnaround.
Staff at United reportedly view Yoro and Heaven as a partnership for the future, with the duo making their first start together this season. However, the defence was in total disarray during the second-half capitulation, with calamitous passing out from the back allowing Gross to equalise. The pairing was also at fault for Brighton's third goal.
Redknapp criticises defensive display
Jamie Redknapp, speaking to Sky Sports, was scathing in his assessment. 'The inexperience of the two young centre-backs showed,' he said. 'I have no doubt the two of them will be on the phone to their agent (asking) why am I not playing at the moment. That's why. These kind of performances tonight.'
'The pair of them were just inept in everything they did. Compare them to (Brighton defender Luka) Vuskovic and his level of aggression and the two from Man United who were making bad decisions, putting their arm up and complaining when they don't get the ball. Brighton were serious about their business in defending. Those two tonight were just poor and have to do better.'
Carrick's selection questioned
Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire have been Carrick's preferred centre-back pairing since he took charge in January. Redknapp suggested that is unlikely to change after Wednesday night's evidence, insisting the young duo treated the game like 'a five-a-side competition.'
Analysing United's second goal conceded, Redknapp added: 'Heaven has to get across and sprint 20 yards to the player who is going to score. Instead, he's on his heels and doesn't anticipate the danger. Instead he is jogging.'
'Yoro does really poorly as well. I don't know what he is doing, what kind of effort is this to stop the ball? This isn't a five-a-side competition, this is a big competition. You have to be aggressive and both of them showed their inexperience and if that doesn't change they won't play for Man United regularly, I don't care what the price tag is.'
Asked if Carrick had made a mistake starting Yoro and Heaven, Redknapp added: 'It does look like that. You've got to sprint, Leny. I see this time and time again.'
Debut to forget for Darlow
There was also a debut to forget for goalkeeper Karl Darlow, with former United winger Ashley Young critical of his role in Brighton's first goal. 'People have got their hands in the air, no one is really looking around. It's one long ball. Between Heaven and Darlow, one of them has to sort it out, someone has got to talk. But there was nothing there at all.'
The defeat adds to the mounting pressure on Carrick, with United's defensive frailties exposed once again. The manager now faces decisions on team selection ahead of their next fixture, with the partnership of Martinez and Maguire likely to be restored.
