Manchester United’s miserable season took another blow as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by a clinical Brighton side, effectively ending their hopes of silverware before the second week of January.
Brighton capitalised on United’s familiar defensive frailties to secure a third-round victory, condemning the 13-time FA Cup winners to an early exit. The defeat means United have now crashed out of both the FA Cup and League Cup at the first hurdle in the same season for the first time since 1981–82.
With no domestic cup competitions left, United are on course to play just 40 matches by the end of May — their fewest in a full season since 1914–15. While their Carabao Cup penalty shootout exit to Grimsby in August raised eyebrows, this latest loss was equally worrying in its lack of urgency and cohesion.
Brighton struck once in each half through Brajan Gruda and former United striker Danny Welbeck. Gruda opened the scoring after Georginio Rutter’s initial effort was parried, while Welbeck later punished United’s shaky back line to double the advantage.
Benjamin Šeško gave the home fans brief hope with an 85th-minute header, but United failed to find an equaliser despite a raucous Old Trafford atmosphere. Matters worsened in stoppage time when 18-year-old substitute Shea Lacey was sent off for dissent, receiving a second yellow card. The youngster left the pitch in tears — a moment that summed up a dismal 2025–26 campaign.
The defeat likely marks the end of Darren Fletcher’s brief stint as interim manager, which finishes without a win following Wednesday’s Premier League draw at Burnley. United are expected to announce a new interim coach on Monday after the sacking of Ruben Amorim last week, with Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick among those interviewed.
Now seventh in the Premier League on 32 points, United trail fourth-placed Liverpool by three points. A Champions League place remains their only realistic target, but after another damaging setback, even European qualification looks far from certain.
