Hull 2 Man Utd 0: Carrick’s new-look midfield abysmal as newly-promoted Tigers maul Red Devils in shock first-half blitz

THE TEAMSHEETS at Hull City were sponsored by McVitie’s and Manchester United crumbled. It took less than 40 minutes for the home followers to goad the visiting supporters with a rendition of “Mauled by the Tigers” after goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy. Man Utd fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Hull in their Premier League opener Credit: Getty Semi Ajayi broke the deadlock for Hull in the 17th minute Credit: Getty Hull sharpened their claws and knives may be sharpened for Michael Carrick after his worst day in charge as the kind of records tumbled that put a United manager under immediate scrutiny. This was Hull’s first-ever top-flight victory against United, defeated by a newly-promoted side in an opening fixture for the first time ever. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Carrick may feel a sense of vindication for considering it “ridiculous” to consider Hull away an easy start. His players seemed intent on making it appear as hard as possible. The circumstances were so dire that Carrick turned to Marcus Rashford at half-time as he made his first competitive United appearance in 20 months. Rashford came off the bench to win it for United in their last Premier League fixture at Hull. Lightning did not strike twice. Rashford got a warm hand from the United supporters too dumbfounded to retreat to the concourse for a half-time refreshment as he warmed up. A new forward is not on the horizon for United. Their dozy defenders will doubtless welcome the imminent arrival of a minder in Carlos Baleba. United are expected to overhaul their defence next summer but there will be a renewed clamour among the fanbase to strengthen it before the September 1 transfer deadline. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Carrick was insistent on a right-footed-left-footed partnership at centre back. That made Ayden Heaven – the rawest defender – an automatic pick with Lisandro Martinez not up to speed after his World Cup exploits. That played into battering ram Oli McBurnie’s hands. McBurnie was once on United’s books and upset them with a late equaliser for Sheffield United in 2019. He threatened to top that from three crosses before the breakthrough, the second shovelled away by Senne Lammens. United’s new No.1 clawed another centre away but his one-man defence was eventually breached from the resultant corner by Semi Ajayi. McBurnie pulled onto Heaven, caught ball-watching, and was remarkably denied by Lammens only for Ajayi to pounce on the rebound. Heaven bickered with McBurnie as the pair made their way off at the interval. That further publicised Heaven’s inferiority complex against someone who has made mince meat of bullying more experienced defenders than the 19-year-old Heaven. There were more complaints from Heaven, convinced the ball had crept out, after McBurnie bulldozed his way through the United midfield as the clock ticked towards the hour mark. Ajayi fired home a close-range strike following a brilliant save from Senne Lammens Credit: Getty Nobel Mendy made it two with a header from a free kick Credit: Getty McBurnie did not get a goal but this was a more memorable afternoon for the man of the match than his late leveller at Bramall Lane nearly seven years ago. With recruitment still topical at United, it did not reflect favourably on director of football Jason Wilcox that Patrick Dorgu, unveiled at the same time as Heaven in February 2025, had such a dismal day he made way for Rashford at half-time. Lammens fished the ball out of his net after another set piece, guided in effortlessly by Nobel Mendy. Opting for Noussair Mazraoui over Diogo Dalot at right back is hardly headline team news but the Moroccan mustered 11 starts for United last term and has always been viewed as a squad player. Hull had space to pepper Lammens down Mazraoui’s side before Ajayi’s breakthrough. Mazraoui lost Mendy when he shaved Regan Slater’s inswinger for 2-0. Carrick also got it wrong at the other end of the pitch. Bryan Mbeumo, playing ahead of Mazraoui, was United’s standout performer in pre-season after five starts as the striker. He suddenly shifted to the right to offset the absence of the injured Amad. With Benjamin Sesko not fit for 45 minutes Carrick picked Matheus Cunha up front after an hour-long stint there against AC Milan in Poland. It was a disappointing performance from Michael Carrick’s Man Utd Credit: Getty Cunha was ill-suited to facing a three-man defence and Dorgu does not convince as a left winger, despite the odd wonder goal. Mbeumo had a right-footed volley repelled by Konstantinos Tzolakis, who made an even better stop from the Cameroonian late in the second half. Carrick completely rejigged the attack with Rashford on for the second half. Rashford played on the left, Mbeumo went up front and Cunha headed to the right. Rashford’s body language used to irritate United fans and he could not conceal his disappointment at an overhit Youri Tielemans pass. Rashford had strayed offside amid the delay. Tielemans warned us at United’s training camp in Ireland last week that his body “switched off” at the World Cup. He was not switched on and left fellow midfield debutant Andrey Santos exposed. Both were removed for Sesko and Kobbie Mainoo as Carrick attempted to salvage something. But Hull did not crumble. “Can we play you every week?” their fans asked. Comment now