Man Utd player ratings: Lacey a shining light on dark evening as Heaven and Yoro ripped apart in Carabao Cup KO

MANCHESTER UNITED surrendered a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Brighton dumped them out of the Carabao Cup. The Red Devils were in dreamland after early goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount, before the Seagulls took control and mounted a stunning comeback. Michael Carrick looked on in disbelief as United crashed out of the Carabao Cup Credit: Alamy Academy graduate Shea Lacey scored his first senior goal on his full competitive debut Credit: Shutterstock Editorial United have not won a domestic cup match since beating Leicester in the FA Cup in February 2025 and again crashed out at first attempt of the Carabao Cup following last season’s horror show at Grimsby Town. Michael Carrick is feeling the heat after goals Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper ended one of two potential trophy hopes this season. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the United players from Old Trafford, as Brighton picked up a fifth straight victory in M16. Karl Darlow – 4 Shipped three goals in an unconvincing club debut. Hardly evoked confidence as he flapped to Kostoulas’ shot. The back-up goalkeeper started well with several commanding punches but the equaliser would not have gone down well with supporters. Was less at fault for the other two goals. Diogo Dalot – 4 After a disaster against City, Dalot’s awful clearance was headed back by Luka Vuskovic in the lead up to 2-2. He hardly stood out before then, which was probably a good thing. Ayden Heaven – 4 Handed his first minutes since a disappointing showing in the embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Hull, Heaven failed to inspire confidence again. The 20-year-old was far to casual when he tried to shield a ball out of play only for Matt O’Riley to take advantage of his dallying in the first half. Most read in Sport Leny Yoro – 3 The Frenchman won a first start of the season, but was as shaky as his young centre-back partner before it all resulted in being skinned by Pascal Gross. Yoro was guilty of wayward passing, poor positional play and weak tackling as United played themselves into trouble after taking a 2-0 lead. Noussair Mazraoui – 4 The Moroccan should have played himself into the left back position for Fulham on Sunday, given Patrick Dorgu‘s mistake in the lead up to Erling Haaland‘s goal in the derby defeat. But he was just as unconvincing as the Danish wing back. Torn apart for the third goal. Andrey Santos – 6 The £48m summer signing started for the first time since the Hull debacle and was better defensively. However the midfielder struggled on the ball at times. Andrey Santos started in midfield for the first time since the opening day defeat at Hull Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Youri Tielemans – 6 The Belgium skipper was commanding in his captain duties for the rested Bruno Fernandes. Tielemans’ voice brought composure and kept United ticking at times when his teammates were dodgy at the back. Mason Mount – 5 The midfielder returned from injury and carried off from where he left off during a strong pre-season with a sweet volley to notch his first goal in nine months. Tried to lob Jason Steele from 50 yards, which did not go down well with Carrick. Did not offer enough going forward as United’s No10 for the evening. Shea Lacey – 7 It had to be him. The patient academy graduate provided the feel good story in a fraught week for United as he fired in an opener in the eighth minute of his full club debut. The 19-year-old kissed the badge in perhaps a pointed message to academy star JJ Gabriel, who asked to leave. Shea Lacey fired in an opener in the eighth minute of his full club debut Credit: Getty Marcus Rashford – 6 The England star’s hard work paid off when he pressed to wrestle the ball back while Brighton played it out from the back, before his rebounded shot fell to Mount. Rashford chased every ball down, but should have done better when he was one-on-one with Steele for a potential leveller. Benjamin Sesko – 5 The Slovenian was hardly a focal point as he teammates struggled to bring him into play. Should have done better when Vuskovic beat him to a header in the middle of the park in the lead up to the equaliser. The £74m striker needed to get hold of the ball more and make it stick. He was, however, starved of service and nobody can knock his workrate. Subs Kobbie Mainoo (for Santos, 66) – 6 Bryan Mbeumo (for Lacey, 66) – 5 Joshua Zirkzee (for Sesko, 66) – 5 Not strong enough. Bruno Fernandes (Mount, 73) – 5 Could not save the day. Matheus Cunha (for Rashford, 80) – 5 Delivered great crosses but Zirkzee could not convert. Comment now