Mansion Sports – Manchester United recorded their worst performance in the past 111 years after being defeated by Brighton and Hove Albion, inspired by the performance of Danny Welbeck, in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday night.

The defeat was a heavy blow for the club, which was playing in front of its own supporters at Old Trafford.

The former Red Devils striker once again haunted his old club, while United were forced to finish the match with ten men after academy graduate Shea Lacey was shown a red card late in the game.

Defining Defeat Amid Managerial Uncertainty

In a match expected to be Darren Fletcher’s final game as interim manager, Manchester United attempted to maintain their positive relationship with the FA Cup when facing Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton side.

United, who have appeared in two of the last three finals of the world’s oldest football competition and were champions in the 2023–2024 season, are currently considering the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick as a temporary replacement for Ruben Amorim, before naming a permanent head coach in the summer.

However, whoever is eventually entrusted with the interim role will not lead United in the FA Cup this season, as the club has been eliminated at the first opportunity.

Welbeck’s Decisive Goal Shatters Home Hopes

Brighton played aggressively from the opening stages with the determination to avenge their 4-2 Premier League defeat in October.

The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute through midfielder Brajan Gruda, who successfully found the back of the net.

Brighton, who had previously gone unbeaten in three matches, then doubled their advantage when Gruda provided the assist for Danny Welbeck.

The 35-year-old striker unleashed a powerful left-footed shot shortly after the 60-minute mark.

Welbeck himself made 142 appearances for Manchester United after breaking into the first team from the club’s academy in 2008.

Manchester United briefly reignited hopes of a comeback when Benjamin Sesko, who had scored twice in a 2-2 draw against Burnley, got his name on the scoresheet again five minutes before the end of normal time.

However, those hopes were extinguished after Shea Lacey received a second yellow card for venting his frustration by bouncing the ball into the ground following a refereeing decision that went against him.

The 18-year-old had previously been cautioned for a late tackle.

Grim Statistics Following FA Cup Elimination

The defeat to Brighton extended Manchester United’s winless run in all competitions to four matches and produced a bleak statistic that has not been seen for more than a century.

With United eliminated from both the FA Cup and the League Cup, the club is now only potentially set to play 40 matches throughout the season.

That figure represents their lowest total since the 1914–1915 season, when United played just 39 matches.

By comparison, last season United featured in 60 matches after reaching the Europa League final, the League Cup quarter-finals, and the fifth round of the FA Cup, in addition to playing 38 Premier League fixtures.

Focus on Recovery Ahead of the Manchester Derby

Manchester United are scheduled to appoint Solskjaer or Carrick as the new interim manager early next week.

After that, they will attempt to bounce back from this defeat when they host local rivals Manchester City in the derby on Saturday, 17 January.

Despite being eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, United still have significant objectives in the league.

They currently sit seventh in the table and are only three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification next season.

Following the match against Brighton, Darren Fletcher stated that the players’ mental condition is fragile and requires a major effort to recover.

He emphasized that confidence is a crucial factor in football and can only be built through hard work, determination, and victories.

Fletcher also stressed that a player’s true character is revealed during difficult periods. He challenged the squad to show commitment to the future of Manchester United, while asserting that the team still possesses the quality to achieve success this season if they are able to draw strength from within themselves.