Man Utd lost 2-1 to Brighton in the FA Cup third round and here are the moments you might have missed from the game.
United were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday.(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford on Sunday. United’s only realistic chance of silverware this season was the FA Cup, so there will be no trophy at Old Trafford this term.
Brighton took the lead through Brajan Gruda after sloppy defending from United in the first half. Danny Welbeck then scored in the 64th minute to extend Brighton’s advantage.
United gave themselves a chance of forcing extra time when Benjamin Sesko scored with five minutes remaining, but Shea Lacey’s late sending off dashed hopes of a late equaliser.
Here are the moments you might have missed:
Frustration boiled over
Brighton have consistently been one of the best-coached teams in the Premier League over the last few years, despite changing managers, and they made it difficult for United to build up from the back.
Fletcher looked frustrated on the touchline and emotions gradually began to boil over on the pitch, with Fernandes screaming in frustration after overhitting a through-ball to Benjamin Sesko.
Fernandes played the pass with too much power, which made it impossible for Sesko to latch onto. A few minutes later, it was Kobbie Mainoo’s turn to throw his hands in the air. The youngster made an intelligent pass to find Sesko, but the Slovenia international was offside – and at fault on that occasion.
The body language from those in red shirts was not good, and it got even worse when Brighton extended their advantage. Fernandes lashed out again while Leny Yoro slumped to his knees in his own box.
The reaction to Lacey
There were cheers from all corners of the ground when Lacey was introduced with 30 minutes remaining. The youngster’s cameo against Burnley was bright, and fans were excited to see what he could do.
It didn’t take long for Lacey to get fans on their feet. He drove at Brighton defender Ferdi Kadioglu, took the ball around him and played a wonderful cross into the box to find Sesko. It was simple old-school wing play, which is becoming rarer in the modern game, and supporters lapped it up. United have traditionally been a club with exciting and fearless wingers in their side.
However, it was a huge shame to see Lacey sent off at the end of the match. The youngster received a second yellow card and looked distraught as he pleaded with the referee not to send him off.
Lacey covered his face with his shirt as he returned to the dressing room and it was heartwarming to see him applauded off. The 18-year-old will come back stronger from the setback.
Fletcher wanted more noise
When Fletcher emerged from the tunnel to take his seat for the second half, he waved his hands to fans in an attempt to increase the noise. He also appeared to exchange words with a supporter as he walked.
United made a brilliant start against Brighton, creating a handful of chances in the opening six minutes. The crowd responded, but the noise dropped when Brighton took the lead and gained control.
Fletcher has the clout to ask for more noise from supporters because of the esteem in which he is held at United. The request might not have gone down well if Ruben Amorim had done the same.
Pre-match accident
There was a nasty-looking accident before the game that could have forced a late change to the starting line-up, as Fernandes received a ball to the face during the warm-up.
Lisandro Martinez was responsible for accidentally sending the ball into Fernandes’ face, and he looked shocked as his teammate received treatment. Fernandes’ nose was swollen and red. It seemed there was a possibility it could be broken, but the United captain still emerged to lead the team out.
Fernandes’ nose was still swollen throughout the game. The TV monitors in the press box showed close-ups when he was in action and confirmed he was playing through the pain barrier.
The United captain is made of stern stuff. He recently missed just four games after picking up a hamstring injury, and he is a throwback to what players of yesteryear were like in an era when players are not as durable.
The directors’ box
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt sat alongside Sir Alex Ferguson in the directors’ box to watch the game, which was interesting given Roy Keane recently suggested Ferguson was hanging around United like a “bad smell”.
Keane has not had a relationship with Ferguson since their dramatic fallout in 2005, which ended his time at United, and that must be remembered when he speaks about the legendary Scot.
Scholes and Butt sitting alongside Ferguson could be perceived as a show of support following Keane’s comment, or it was merely coincidental and they were set to attend the FA Cup clash regardless.
Keane is friends with his former teammates Scholes and Butt, which suggests the latter is more likely to be true. Nevertheless, the timing of their presence at the game was interesting.