Brighton’s Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring in opposition to Manchester United. Picture: AFP
MANCHESTER:
Manchester United’s issues mounted because the managerless Pink Devils crashed out of the FA Cup after a 2-1 defeat in opposition to Brighton on Sunday.
Brajan Gruda put Brighton forward within the first half at Previous Trafford and former United striker Danny Welbeck netted after the break.
Benjamin Sesko’s reply got here too late to save lots of his facet from a 3rd spherical exit as United teenager Shea Lacey was despatched off within the last moments.
United have been barraged by jeers from livid followers following the newest depressing lead to one other troubled season.
Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has did not cease the rot following Ruben Amorim’s shock sacking on Monday, with United trying to appoint an interim supervisor till the tip of the season
Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, a embellished ex-United midfielder, have each been linked with the non permanent function.
However no matter United’s previous pedigree, the chaos enveloping Previous Trafford hardly makes it an interesting job for any supervisor of stature lately.
Welbeck, 35, was at United after they gained their most up-to-date Premier League title in 2013 below Alex Ferguson, who watched the Brighton debacle from the administrators field as the present era confirmed how far they’ve fallen from the Scot’s golden period.
United, at the moment a disappointing seventh within the Premier League, are with out a win in 4 video games and have managed just one victory of their final seven matches.
That wretched kind is unlikely to enhance anytime quickly with United internet hosting Manchester Metropolis subsequent weekend earlier than travelling to Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25.
After a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth tier Grimsby in August, United have exited each home cups on the first hurdle for the primary time since 1981-82.
Avenging their 2023 FA Cup semi-final loss to United, Brighton have now gained on 4 of their final 5 visits to Previous Trafford.
United in disarray
United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo began for under the second time this season as Fletcher left Casemiro on the bench in considered one of three modifications from the midweek 2-2 draw at lowly Burnley.
Albion keeper Jason Steele made superb saves to disclaim Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes within the early levels.
However Brighton made probably the most of these escapes to take the lead within the twelfth minute.
Welbeck was the catalyst with an incisive run and cross to Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the road by Lisandro Martinez earlier than Gruda slammed previous Senne Lammens from close-range.
United have been in disarray and chants in opposition to co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer household rang round Previous Trafford.
Fernandes despatched a free-kick huge and Matheus Cunha was narrowly off-target as United trudged off with boos ringing of their ears at half-time.
Mainoo was hauled off within the second half after a lacklustre show that did little to rebuke Amorim’s resolution to disregard him for a lot of this season.
United’s issues are far wider than simply Mainoo and Brighton punished their shambolic defending to double the lead within the sixty fourth minute.
Gruda was given time and area to select Welbeck inside the world and he lashed an beautiful strike previous Lammens because the ambiance turned much more poisonous.
Sesko arrange a frenetic finale after heading house from Fernandes’ eighty fifth minute nook.
However United could not muster a late escape as Lacey, already on a reserving, introduced a becoming finish to a painful defeat when he was despatched off for throwing the ball away in frustration.
