Michael Carrick urges calm as Man Utd suffer shock defeat at Hull

United were beaten by two first-half set-piece goals at the MKM Stadium, with Semi Ajayi heading Hull in front from a corner before Nobel Mendy doubled the lead from a free-kick. The result was Hull's first league victory over United since 1974 and their first top-flight win against the club.

The defeat also ended the optimism that had surrounded Carrick's first full season in charge. United had entered the campaign with renewed confidence after Carrick collected more points than any other manager following his return to the club in January, while Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans had also arrived during the summer.

Yet Carrick refused to allow one poor performance to trigger an overreaction, despite United producing only five shots on target.

"We did some good things today and it will get lost," Carrick told reporters. "We have to find answers but because we lose one game, it doesn't mean everything needs dissecting."

The United boss acknowledged the disappointment but insisted his players would respond rather than allow the result to derail their season.

"We came here to win like we do any game," Carrick said. "So to not take anything away is hugely disappointing. It's not more than that. It's not less than that. It's just one game that we're disappointed we haven't won. So we've got to soak it up and come back stronger."

Carrick's insistence on remaining composed did not mean the defeat had failed to affect him.

"I'm talking to you quite calmly, but I'm not exactly calm inside and enjoying the day," he said. "Inside we're hurting, the boys know, and we need to get better. But the calmness doesn't mean that there's no emotion in it, for sure."