Manchester United’s woes deepened as the managerless Red Devils were eliminated from the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Sunday.
Brajan Gruda put the visitors ahead in the first half, before former United striker Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton’s advantage after the break. Benjamin Sesko’s late goal proved too little, too late, while United teenager Shea Lacey was sent off in the dying moments, sealing a miserable exit.
Furious fans jeered relentlessly as United suffered another setback in a season already marked by chaos and disappointment. Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has struggled to arrest the slide following Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking earlier this week, with the club now searching for an interim manager until the end of the season. Names such as former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick have been linked to the temporary role, though the instability at Old Trafford makes the position far from attractive.
Welbeck, 35, who was part of United’s last Premier League-winning squad under Alex Ferguson in 2013, played a decisive role in Brighton’s victory, while Ferguson observed from the directors’ box as the current squad highlighted how far the club has fallen from its glory days.
United, seventh in the Premier League, are without a win in four matches and have claimed just one victory in their last seven games. Their struggles continue with a daunting Premier League schedule, hosting Manchester City next weekend before traveling to leaders Arsenal on January 25. After a humiliating League Cup loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in August, this marks the first time United have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle since the 1981-82 season. Brighton, avenging their 2023 FA Cup semi-final defeat, have now won four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.
United in disarray
United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started only for the second time this season as Fletcher left Casemiro on the bench, making three changes from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Burnley. Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele made early saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, but Brighton capitalized on their chances in the 12th minute. Welbeck’s incisive run and cross found Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez, only for Gruda to fire past Senne Lammens from close range.
The home side struggled to respond, with chants against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family echoing around Old Trafford. Fernandes sent a free-kick wide, while Matheus Cunha narrowly missed as United trudged off to boos at half-time. Mainoo was substituted in the second half after a lacklustre display that did little to justify Amorim’s previous sidelining of the teenager.
Brighton punished United again in the 64th minute, as Gruda delivered a precise pass to Welbeck, who struck expertly past Lammens to double the lead. Sesko pulled one back in the 85th minute from Fernandes’ corner, but the Red Devils could not find a late equalizer. Lacey, already booked, was sent off for throwing the ball away in frustration, bringing a fitting end to another painful evening at Old Trafford.
AFP
