Carrick 'not bothered' by pressure - but should he be after this latest mess?

· BBC-Football

Manager Michael Carrick insists he does not feel under pressure after Manchester United's EFL Cup exit.

That is the context to the shocking Carabao Cup third-round exit his old club suffered against Brighton on Wednesday.

It is a period of time that encompasses the legendary Scot's dynasties at Aberdeen as well as United. The Class of '92 were in nappies when John Pratt scored the winner for Tottenham on 4 September 1976.

After holding protests inside and outside the ground before Sunday's loss to 10-man Manchester City, United supporters made their feelings known about their latest embarrassment in three ways.

Most fans simply left as the players embarked on their post-match lap of appreciation.

Some of those who remained booed, as they had done when their side fell behind 21 minutes from time.

By the time they approached the tunnel, close to United's 'singing section', supporters were asking Michael Carrick and his players 'what was that?'. Their wording was somewhat more colourful.

It is not certain where 15-year-old JJ Gabriel was while all this was taking place, but nothing happened that would make him think he had got it wrong by turning his back on the club.

Indeed, it is quite possible, probable indeed, that the promised senior debut would have been scrapped given the game situation - and the fact skipper Bruno Fernandes was among the experienced players introduced in the frantic final stages.

"Of course we can turn it around, we have got some really good players," said Carrick. "It feels bad because we haven't had a great week or two, or three weeks."

Carrick's side have won twice this season, against newly promoted Ipswich at home after falling behind, and Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK in the Champions League. They have now lost on three occasions, more defeats than he experienced in 17 matches after replacing Ruben Amorim in January.

He has been around Manchester United long enough to know the pressure losing runs can build.

"I don't feel under pressure," he said. "Either way, that doesn't bother me one bit.

> "I understand what goes on outside and how the world works, but it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is winning games, having a good feeling around the place and a good feeling around the group to know we're moving in a good direction."

The problem is it doesn't feel as though they are moving in a good direction. There were certainly not many positives to take from this mess.

The obvious one was Shea Lacey, who marked his first senior start with a well-taken eighth-minute goal. It meant he became the first teenager to score on his first United start since Marcus Rashford in February 2016.

Lacey was one of eight changes made by Carrick. Defensively, those changes were not a success.

Diogo Dalot was one of the three players to keep their place. His form has deserted him. Noussair Mazraoui is the back-up left-back, which only heightens the debate over the wisdom not to buy one before the transfer window closed. Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven looked like the inexperienced defenders they are. In midfield Manchester United were overrun.

Yet again, Rashford threatened without managing a goal or an assist. He came closest to levelling when he sped beyond the Brighton defence, but his shot was saved by Jason Steele.

"The longer the game went, the more we had control," was the concise assessment of Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler. "I thought we deserved to win."

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