Erik ten Hag was left fuming after Manchester United were struck down by last gasp divine intervention.
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi thanked the footballing Gods after Alexis Mac Allister’s 99th minute penalty winner defeated United to leave them still unsure of their top four place.
Ten Hag watched in horror as Luke Shaw gifted Brighton a penalty with a crazy handball which was given after a VAR check but was sweet revenge for the hosts who lost to United on penalties in last month’s FA Cup semi final.
United boss ten Hag said: “We have to be more clinical on our chances we produced in the first half. In the end we gave away a goal and that can't happen.
“It is handball, maybe he is out of balance or maybe got a push in the back. My anger is more about the free kick before the corner, it was never a free kick. There were so many bad tackles tonight.
"It is not about the officials, we have to finish the chances, be more clinical and don't make the mistakes we did like in the last seconds.”
Shaw added: "I can't even explain why my hand is up there. I got a nudge, maybe that helps with my hand going up but it shouldn't be there. Hands up, a silly mistake that cost us a point.
“This changes nothing. It is still in our hands. We have to pick ourselves from the position we were win. We were comfortable but now you could say there is a real chase. Teams around us are picking up points. We still have a game in hand and it is in our hands.”
Brighton boss De Zerbi admitted the win helped him feel better and said: “There is a God of football. We deserved to win the semi-final but lost on penalties but today we won with a penalty.
“In both games I think we played better than United. The last result was unfair. We are fighting for this target to be in Europe but we have another six games more to play, very tough games, starting Monday with Everton. It will be a very difficult game.”
