Manchester United crash out of FA Cup as they suffer 44-year low

Whoever takes interim charge of Manchester United has a big job on their hands.

In a season that continues to get worse as the weeks go by, the Red Devils were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Brighton and Hove Albion.

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The 2-1 defeat also created an unwanted piece of history for the club, becoming the first time since the 1981/82 season that they have crashed out of both domestic cup campaigns at the first hurdle.

Meanwhile, this is the first time since 1915 Man United will only play 40 games in a season – with the Red Devils only playing 40 games due to World War One happening.

In case anyone forgot, the Red Devils were beaten by Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup in round two, and they followed that up with defeat at Old Trafford, losing 2-1.

It means there will be no trophy in the red half of Manchester this season, with Man United not in the Premier League title race and not involved in Europe after finishing 15th in the top-flight last year and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

In the end, goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck proved to be enough for Brighton, who beat Man United for the first time in the FA Cup.

Benjamin Sesko did pull one back for the home side, but it was too little too late.

Brighton had previously lost every meeting with Manchester United in this competition having faced them six times previously, but Fabian Hurzeler‘s men are into the next round, and the Red Devils are out.

This was Darren Fletcher‘s second game in interim charge as the club look to line up a proper caretaker until the end of the season, following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.

The Scotsman took charge of the midweek Premier League game against Burnley, and the Red Devils looked lively going forward, but could only manage a 2-2 draw.

Here, he named a very strong starting XI, including Bruno Fernandes Matheus Cunha, Sesko and Mason Mount.

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Shambles

The hosts started well with Jason Steele forced into a couple of early saves, but it was all too easy for Brighton when they did score.

Welbeck got to the byline and floated a cross to the far post.

Georginio was entirely unmarked in the six-yard-box, but his header was saved by Senne Lammens.

The ball rebounded back into the middle of the box, and Gruda rifled home from ten yards.

Sesko had a few chances before half time, but overall, it was pretty comfortable for the Seagulls at a quiet Old Trafford.

The second half started with some pressure from the home side, but there was still a lack of clear chances.

And things went from bad to worse in the 64th minute as Gruda fed a pass into Welbeck.

The former England international’s first touch put the ball onto his left foot, and with his second, he rifled the ball into the roof of the net.

It was an elite finish from Welbeck, who wasn’t afraid to celebrate at his old stomping ground for his eighth goal against his former team.

There was still time for some more drama, though.

Sesko pulled one back from a Bruno Fernandes corner that Steele probably should have stopped.

But it wasn’t enough, and the home side even saw a man sent off.

Young Shea Lacey came off the bench, after a lively cameo in midweek, and received two yellow cards in the space of three minutes to receive his first senior red card.

It summed up another afternoon to forget for Man United.

Good luck to whoever comes in for Fletcher, be it Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick because the only thing left to play for is trying to get back into Europe.