Manchester United’s season suffered a major blow on Sunday as they were defeated 2-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford, resulting in a third-round exit from the FA Cup.
The sacking of Ruben Amorim has yet to produce a turnaround, with caretaker manager Darren Fletcher unable to halt United’s downward spiral against a Brighton side that looked organised and confident from the start.
Brighton took control early, dominating possession and dictating the game’s pace. Their pressure paid off in the 12th minute when Brajan Gruda reacted fastest after Lisandro Martínez cleared Georginio Rutter’s header off the line, calmly slotting home the rebound to give the visitors a deserved lead.
United struggled to impose themselves and were punished again shortly after halftime. Former Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton’s advantage with a composed finish, opting not to celebrate against his former club, as United’s defensive weaknesses were exposed once more.
The home side showed some promise late in the game when Benjamin Sesko pulled a goal back, sparking hopes of a late comeback.
Despite dominating possession in the final stages, Manchester United lacked cohesion and cutting edge, while Brighton’s well-structured defence held strong.
The frustration for United worsened in the 89th minute when teenage substitute Shea Lacey was shown a second yellow card and sent off, capping a miserable afternoon at Old Trafford.
The loss leaves Manchester United without a realistic shot at silverware this season and raises serious questions about the club’s direction amid ongoing uncertainty on and off the pitch.
Was this an example of Brighton’s brilliance or Manchester United’s collapse? Fans are invited to share their views below.
