Manchester United’s woes deepen with a 2-1 FA Cup exit to Brighton, sparking fan fury and increasing pressure on the managerless club
MANCHESTER United’s crisis deepened with a 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
The loss, met with furious jeers from home fans, piles more misery on the managerless club and marks their earliest exit from both domestic cups since 1982.
Brajan Gruda gave Brighton a first-half lead before former United striker Danny Welbeck doubled the advantage after the break.
Benjamin Sesko’s late header offered brief hope, but United’s misery was compounded by teenager Shea Lacey’s late red card for dissent.
Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has now failed to win in two games since Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking, with the club seeking an interim manager until season’s end.
Former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-midfielder Michael Carrick have been linked with the temporary role at the chaotic club.
United are winless in four games and have only one victory in their last seven matches across all competitions.
The defeat also avenged Brighton’s 2023 FA Cup semi-final loss, marking their fourth win in five visits to Old Trafford.
United started brightly, with Brighton keeper Jason Steele making fine saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes early on.
Gruda opened the scoring in the 12th minute, firing home after Lisandro Martinez cleared Georginio Rutter’s header off the line.
Welbeck, who won the Premier League with United in 2013, sealed the win with a superb strike in the 64th minute.
The 35-year-old was set up by Gruda as United’s shambolic defending was punished yet again.
Sesko’s 85th-minute header from a Fernandes corner set up a tense finish, but United could not find an equaliser.
The result leaves United, currently seventh in the Premier League, facing a daunting run of fixtures against Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal.
