Manchester United v Brighton live: Teenage substitute Lacey sees red as hosts crash out of FA Cup | OneFootball

(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Manchester United’s dismal season continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Brighton in the third round of the FA Cup.

United started brightly but could not find a way past Seagulls keeper Jason Steele, and Brajan Gruda opened the scoring in the 12th minute against the run of play.

From there United struggled to get back into the game, with Danny Welbeck doubling the hosts’ lead in the second half with his eighth goal against his former side.

Benjamin Sesko produced a late consolation goal and Old Trafford instantly revived as United pressed for an equaliser, but not even the introduction of Harry Maguire could rescue the game - and the season.

Teenage substitute Shea Lacey was a rare bright spark for the hosts on his FA Cup debut, but he received a second yellow for dissent and was sent off late on to compound United’s woes.

For United, this was the first time they have fallen at the first hurdle in both cup competitions since the 1981-82 season; for Brighton, this was sweet revenge for the 1983 final, and their first FA Cup victory over the Red Devils.

Pinned

Manchester United’s nightmare season reaches new lows with premature but predictable FA Cup exit

For those, certain former managers perhaps included, who think Manchester United occupy too much space in the discourse, it is more than a century, World Wars excepted, since they last took up so little room in the fixture list.

For Darren Fletcher, who had spoken of the honour of managing United, it has been accompanied by their latest historic low, another marker of failure. The team with no manager have no cup run and will get no trophy.

Because 11 January became the earliest point in a season since 1971 to ensure United would end it without silverware. United fell at the first hurdle of the FA Cup, just as they had in the League Cup, an unwanted double they had not mustered since 1982. They guaranteed they will play just 40 games, their fewest in a full campaign since 1914-15.

Man Utd’s nightmare season reaches new low with premature but predictable FA Cup exit

Manchester United 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion: Late Benjamin Sesko consolation goal not enough as hosts crash out of FA Cup at first time of asking

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Flo Clifford11 January 2026 20:03

'We created enough to win' - Diogo Dalot

Let’s hear from Diogo Dalot on TNT Sports now. He says: “We created enough to win the game to be honest.” Did they?!

“Then the red card gave us a disadvantage because we were on top of Brighton in the last moments. Overall very disappointed because we wanted to go through. All the lads kept trying to find spaces, like I said really disappointed because I think we deserved to win.”

On the managerial churn, he says it’s been “really difficult. It's always a period that you have to find ways to solve problems really quickly. We have to adapt and go again.”

Flo Clifford11 January 2026 19:20

Darren Fletcher 'helped me massively as a boy' - Danny Welbeck

Welbeck now pays a nice tribute to Darren Fletcher, who is his former teammate at United.

“It's incredible,” he says. “Credit to Fletch to see what he's done. He helped me massively as a young boy coming through at Man Utd, he was there for me every single day. I've got a lot of respect for him, it was nice to see him after the game.”

Flo Clifford11 January 2026 19:10

'I've got into a rhythm' - Danny Welbeck

Welbeck is asked what his secret is to playing so well at the age of 35. He says: “I can't really give away the secret. If I say too much, the drugs test people will come for me! I've got good gamily genes, I eat well, prepare well for every single training session.

“When I was younger I played, left or right and No 10. Playing through that and going through injuries, it's hard to get into the rhythm. Touch wood, I haven't had many injuries at Brighton in last few years. I've got into a rhythm.”

Can he make it into the World Cup squad? He laughs and says: “For me, I'm just focusing on here at Brighton. I'm enjoying my time. Football can change at the click of your fingers. I'm just controlling what I can control.”

(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)