Bruno Fernandes has urged Manchester United players to be bolder and more confident as they struggle through their worst home start to a season in 131 years.

Although the United captain equalized Yankuba Minteh’s opener with a penalty, Ruben Amorim’s side eventually crumbled, losing 3-1 in a largely one-sided match overseen by referee Peter Bankes.

When asked if this alarming slump reflects a new norm for United, whose last comparable performance dates back to their Newton Heath era, Fernandes strongly disagreed.

“It can’t be,” he told Sky Sports.

“I get the perception from the outside, but we cannot accept this as OK. It’s not acceptable.

“I’m not here to lose games or stay in this kind of position. No one in the dressing room is, and if anyone thinks it’s fine, they don’t belong here.”

Bruno Fernandes has called on his team-mates to be braver and show some more belief

Ruben Amorim’s side folded and were soundly beaten 3-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford

It took a late hat-trick from Amad Diallo on Thursday night to turn a poor performance against Southampton around but there was to be no rescue act this time around.

For Brighton defender Lewis Dunk, this was ‘comfortable’ for the visiting Seagulls and an annual trip that continues to present little to no problem for them.

Victory for Brighton on Sunday means that United have lost six of their last seven Premier League games against the Seagulls (W1), including all three meetings at Old Trafford in that run.

‘It doesn’t matter to me. It’s another loss to us. It doesn’t matter how many times they’ve won against us,’ Fernandes continued.

‘I remember in the past where they haven’t won a game here. That’s not going to change anything.

‘The main thing that is going change for us is we didn’t get the three points today. Congratulations to them, they did a good game and they deservedly won the game.’

Any suggestion that Amorim could change his style to try and change the results of this team were given short shrift by the man himself in the wake of this defeat.

‘I’m not going to change the way I see the game. I’m very clear on that,’ Amorim vowed.

Amorim insists he will not change his style despite the Red Devils’ poor run of results

‘The players are going to suffer, I’m sorry, the fans are going to suffer.

‘I have one way of doing things, I know it’s going to [bring] results. But we have to suffer these moments. I think it’s very clear for everybody what we are going to do.’