Fletcher: I challenge the players to regroup | Darren’s assessment after Man Utd 1 Brighton 2

MIXED REACTION

“Mixed really. I thought we started okay and then the [first Brighton] goal knocked the stuffing out of us and we didn’t really create the tempo after that. We didn’t play enough balls in behind and test them and I think our passing was quite slow, so I challenged them at half-time. It was similar to the game in midweek [against Burnley] – move the ball with composure, but you need to move the ball with tempo and that was difficult. I thought we created enough chances, then to go 2-0 down was disappointing but the lads responded well. When we got back to 2-1, I thought ‘here we go’. The crowd was up, the energy was up, but ultimately we couldn’t get over the line and get an equalising goal. But I think you can see the players are fragile and they need to build themselves up well because it’s up to them now, they’ve got to respond.”

STILL A LOT TO PLAY FOR THIS SEASON

“Without a doubt [the squad is devoid of confidence] and then you concede a goal and the confidence hits them as well. Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football so when you don’t have confidence, you have [to] dig deep, battle, grind, fight, work, win games and then the confidence comes back. But they are experienced players, they are talented players and, as I said, I challenge them to regroup and it’s over to them. Someone is going to come in and lead them and they need to make sure that they’ve got a lot to play for this season. This team’s still good enough to achieve success this season but they’ve got to dig deep and find a way within themselves.”