Gloom deepens at Old Trafford as ten men United exit the cup
Utd’s season goes from bad to worse as they went out of the FA Cup in the third round for the first time since 2013/14. They lacked a thrust and cutting edge despite having plenty of the ball and made errors at the back. Benjamin Sesko’s third goal in a week was a mere consolation before Shea Lacey got two late yellow cards.
It is Brighton’s first cup success against us despite their league record and they were worth the win. Danny Welbeck caused the damage with an assist and a goal against his former club. They can now look forward to the draw on Monday.
Interim Manager Darren Fletcher made three changes from the draw at Burnley. Kobee Mainoo made his first start since the penalty defeat to Grimsby whilst Mason Mount and Leny Yoro also came in. Casemiro was on the bench with Ayden Heaven whilst Luke Shaw was dropped. Both Fletcher twins were on the bench.
Fabian Hurzeler made a raft of changes from their draw against Man City. Only Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinselwood, Pascal Gross, Georgino Rutter, and Diego Gomez kept their place. Former red, Danny Welbeck, started up front.
Utd made the brighter start of the two and could have been ahead after two minutes. Matheus Cunha cut inside and played a diagonal ball into the path of Diogo Dalot putting him through on goal. Jason Steele, making a rare start, came out to deny him. Dalot should have done better with his finish though and blazed over with another chance shortly after. Steele was then called into action as he got across to tip over a free kick from Bruno Fernandes.
It was against the run of play that Brighton went in front after 12 minutes. Ferdi Kadioglu moved inside from the left and fed Danny Welbeck. He brushed off the attempted challenge of Mason Mount and clipped a ball to Georgino Rutter. He saw his header cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez, but Brajan Gruda nodded home the rebound. Lammens almost gifted a chance to Welbeck when his pass was intercepted, but he recovered in time.
Utd did come back and Benjamin Sesko had the chance to equalise. His attempted lob from a Cunha pass lacked the power to beat Steele. Cunha was also off target with a pair of chances he had.
The home side were on top in terms of possession but failing to make the necessary breakthrough. Martinez saw an effort blocked by Steele from a Patrick Dorgu pass and Fernandes saw his free kick held as they tried to level it up before the break. An attempted backheel by Dalot that found no-one elicted groans from the home fans.
As the second half went on the sense of frustration grew in the ground. They were still seeing plenty of the ball but not able to make anything of it. Kobee Mainoo who quiet for most of the game on his return departed after the hour mark as Fletcher tried to liven up matters.
It was the visitors who were to score a second though. It was far too easy from their prospective defensively lacking from us. Joel Veltman near the half-way line chipped a ball into Gruda who had found space between Martinez and Dorgu. He turned and slipped a pass into Welbeck. He spun away from Leny Yoro and blasted into the net. He had also scored an FA Cup winner here when with Arsenal.
Sesko had a header go wide from a Shea Lacey cross and Dorgu had a scissor kick into the arms of Steele as Utd desperately tried to get back into it.
Hope was revived with five minutes left in regular time. Fernandes swung a deep corner towards the back post which was met by the head of Sesko. His header evaded the grasp of Steele.
That hope was dashed a few minutes later though. Lacey went late into a challenge after overrunning the ball. He slammed the ball away in frustration after the booking and the referee gave him a second yellow for dissent. The youngster was gutted as he departed the field.
The remainder of the game was an anti-climax and the final whistle was greeted by boos. It is another unwanted record for the club as they exit both domestic cup competitions at the first stage since 1981/82. It also ramps up the pressure on whomever is hired for the rest of the season. It remains to be seen if there is a new face or faces in the dug-out when we take on City in the Manchester Derby next Saturday. Brighton take on south coast rivals Bournemouth on Monday.
Manchester United: Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez (Harry Maguire 79), Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte (Casemiro 79), Kobee Mainoo (Joshua Zirkzee 62), Bruno Fernandes Mason Mount (Shea Lacey 62), Mattheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko.
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Tyrel Malacia, Ayden Heaven, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher.
Booked: Kobee Mainoo (60), Shea Lacey (87), Harry Maguire (90+2)
Sent off: Shea Lacey (88)
Brighton and Hove Albion: Jason Steele, Joel Veltman (Yasin Ayari 77), Diego Coppola, Oliver Boscagli, Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinselwood, Pascal Gross, Brajan Gruda (Tom Watson 72), Georgino Rutter (Charalampos Kostoulas 84), Diego Gomez (Jan Paul van Hecke 72), Danny Welbeck (Kaoru Mitoma 72).
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen, Lewis Dunk, , Charlie Tasker, Harry Howell.
Booked: Charalampos Kostoulas (90+2)
Sent off: None
Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance:
Simply Red Man of the Match: Danny Welbeck
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