FA Cup: Brighton knock out managerless Manchester United

LONDON: Manchester United’s problems mounted as the managerless Red Devils crashed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Sunday night.

Brajan Gruda put Brighton ahead in the first half at Old Trafford and former United striker Danny Welbeck netted after the break.

Benjamin Sesko’s reply came too late to save his side from a third round exit as United teenager Shea Lacey was sent off in the final moments.

United was barraged by jeers from furious fans following the latest miserable result in another troubled season.

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started for only the second time this season as Fletcher left Casemiro on the bench in one of three changes from the midweek 2-2 draw at lowly Burnley.

Albion keeper Jason Steele made fine saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes in the early stages. But Brighton made the most of those escapes to take the lead in the 12th minute.

Welbeck was the catalyst with an incisive run and cross to Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez before Gruda slammed past Senne Lammens from close-range.

United was in disarray and chants against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family rang around Old Trafford.

Fernandes sent a free-kick wide, and Matheus Cunha was narrowly off-target as United players trudged off with boos ringing in their ears at half-time.

Mainoo was hauled off in the second half after a lacklustre display that did little to rebuke Amorim’s decision to ignore him for much of this season.

United’s problems are far wider than just Mainoo, and Brighton punished its shambolic defending to double the lead in the 64th minute.

Gruda was given time and space to pick out Welbeck inside the area and he lashed an exquisite strike past Lammens as the atmosphere turned even more toxic.

Sesko set up a frenetic finale after heading home from Fernandes’ 85th minute corner.

But United couldn’t muster a late escape as Lacey, already on a booking, brought a fitting end to a painful defeat when he was sent off for throwing the ball away in frustration.

United, currently a disappointing seventh in the Premier League, is without a win in four games and has managed only one victory in its last seven matches.

That wretched form is unlikely to improve anytime soon, with United hosting Manchester City next weekend before travelling to Premier League leader Arsenal on January 25.

After a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in August, United has exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82.

Avenging its 2023 FA Cup semifinal loss to United, Brighton has now won on four of its last five visits to Old Trafford. Agencies

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