Pascal Gross remarked that a negative reaction from Manchester United fans is simply part of the experience at major clubs, following Brighton’s impressive 3-2 comeback victory that stunned the crowd at Old Trafford.
Brighton found themselves down 2-0 early on due to goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount within the first ten minutes of their EFL Cup match on Wednesday.
However, Charalampos Kostoulas scored just before half-time, giving Brighton a lifeline, and from that moment, the team pressed forward with confidence.
Kostoulas’ deflected assist set up Maxim De Cuyper for the winning goal with 21 minutes to go, just four minutes after Gross equalized.
This defeat marked a historic low for United, as it was their first loss at home after leading by two or more goals in over 50 years, with the last occurrence being a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham in September 1976.
The crowd’s frustration was palpable at the final whistle, having seen Michael Carrick’s team eliminated from the competition at the first hurdle, mirroring their second-round exit last season to Grimsby Town.
Gross commented that such reactions are normal at prestigious clubs like United, where the home atmosphere can be either a source of motivation for the visitors or a pressure cooker for the home side, depending on performance.
“When you score and turn the game around, that’s what happens at big clubs,” Gross told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It can be tough when the crowd turns against you; it’s all about how you handle that. We managed the game well and even had chances to extend our lead to 4-2.”
Brighton seems to be developing a knack for comebacks, having also fought back in a 4-3 loss to Chelsea and salvaged a 1-1 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League.
“It was frustrating because it’s not the first time this season we started slow; it’s the third now,” Gross commented on Sky Sports. “We need to address that, but today we managed to turn it around.”
Making more memories. https://t.co/FHFOhQxws6 pic.twitter.com/yVY3tQeyeS
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@BHAFC) September 16, 2026
Brighton’s recent visits to Old Trafford have been fruitful, with five wins in their last six away matches against United across all competitions, having lost 12 of their first 14 encounters.
“I’m not sure why,” Gross said when asked about Brighton’s success at Old Trafford. “It certainly helps to have previous victories here, as it can be intimidating, but we felt confident at half-time.”
“At 2-1, we sensed we were in the game; we just needed to improve our play, which we did as the game progressed.”
Fan Take: This stunning victory by Brighton not only highlights their resilience but also amplifies the pressure on Manchester United, signaling the shifting dynamics in English football. For fans, it underscores the unpredictability of the sport and the potential for underdogs to triumph against traditional powerhouses, making every match exciting and consequential.
Source: www.soccernews.com
