MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 BRIGHTON: The Red Devils were dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round by the Seagulls as Danny Welbeck returned to haunt them yet again in what may be Darren Fletcher’s final outing
Brighton secured another win at Old Trafford to ensure Manchester United‘s week went from bad to worse as their FA Cup hopes were ended for another year.
In what is likely to be Darren Fletcher‘s swansong as caretaker boss he saw his side undone by the visiting Seagulls with Brajan Gruda’s first-half strike setting them on their way before Danny Welbeck enjoyed another moment back at the place he once called home.
It represents a new low for United, who have been dumped out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time in 44 years. Their loss to Brighton following the humiliating loss to Grimsby Town earlier this season.
After Diogo Dalot, who was sent clear, had seen his early effort saved by Jason Steele Brighton made them pay as Gruda was able to hammer home. Georginio Rutter saw his header cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez, but his German team-mate was on hand to convert past four United defenders from six yards in front of the Stretford End.
The home side became increasingly frustrated and a difficult task was made even worse when Welbeck produced a stunning finish to double the Brighton lead. He allowed the ball to run across him before firing a left-footed striker into the top corner.
Benjamin Sesko, fresh from his brace in midweek, headed home with five minutes left to set up a grandstand finish. But minutes later and teenager Shea Lacey was shown a second yellow for throwing the ball away and United’s ten men couldn’t rally to find an equaliser.
Here’s five talking points from Sunday’s clash
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A week to forget
You sack your head coach on Monday, have to fightback to claim a point at a team in the relegation zone in midweek and then see another trophy hope ended in your own back yard. This week on the red side of Manchester has been a constant source of discussion, but those associated with the club won’t remember it too fondly.
It will be several months before they can talk about their next new era so the interim manager who comes in, likely this week, will be picking up some seriously broken pieces. The FA Cup, as well as hopes of a top four finish, were the two things the club have been holding onto this term, but it will be all eggs in the league from here on in.
Brighton – and Welbeck – just love Old Trafford
Without having time to delve into the archives, I doubt too many away teams will have won four times on the trot at Old Trafford, but that is what the Seagulls pulled off with another win. Safe to say their week in Manchester has been a positive one. Last season Fabian Hurzeler became the third Brighton boss in a row to win at Old Trafford, following in the footsteps of Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi.
They’ve now added an FA Cup scalp to their three successive victories on the red side of Manchester that they’ve pulled off in recent years. On every occasion they were more than good value for their victory. They must be looking forward to their next trip in May 24.
In their victory last term Welbeck was on target and, as he has been several times in the past, the former United man was against scoring at Old Trafford for the visiting team. His emphatic finish put Brighton in total control – and he didn’t shy away from celebrating.
Mainoo audition falls flat
It seemed like he was firmly seen as a squad player under Amorim, even if the Portuguese coach did claim he was the “future of the club”. You wouldn’t think he felt that way given the lack of minutes he handed the academy star. Casemiro was regularly starting ahead of him, but maybe that’s about to change.
The Brazilian hasn’t been tearing up trees and Fletcher took the opportunity to make the change that so many United fans have been calling for. Mainoo was in from the start and whilst the next man in charge may choose to keep him there, he by no means pressed his case to be a guaranteed starter and was hauled off on the hour mark.
Fletcher’s last dance?
Time will tell on this one. When he was first named as caretaker the talk was of him taking charge of Burnley, then it turned into this weekend. United’s hierarchy look like their close to landing an interim until the end of the season – be that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick.
Fletcher is understood to have impressed those above him with how he’s conducted himself and prepared the team. His results clear less impressive. It doesn’t look like the club have seen enough to warrant handing him the reigns until season’s end with one of his former team-mates set to come in.
Jim facing Glazer territory
It only look ten minutes for the first anti-Sir Jim Ratcliffe chant from the Stretford End. As well as that there were two anti-Glazers chants as the frustration with the club’s hierarchy and their decision making continues to mount. The American owners had tried to fade into the background by selling a share to the Ineos boss and giving him control of the football side.
Now, after several unpopular decisions off the pitch, and continued failings on it and in the dugout, it seems as if Ratcliffe and the Glazers are being seen as one and the same. It had been seen as the chance to start a fresh, even though the Americans retain overall control, but any good feeling that may have existed is nearly all but gone.
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