Manchester United suffered a dismal exit from the FA Cup, losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the third round at Old Trafford. This defeat marked a significant low point for the club, as it was their earliest exit from both domestic cup competitions (FA Cup and EFL Cup) since the 1981-82 season. They had previously been knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two Grimsby.
The match saw Darren Fletcher in his second game as caretaker manager for Manchester United, following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Brighton took the lead through Brajan Gruda's first-half opener, and former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck extended their lead with Brighton's second goal, his eighth against his old club and sixth at Old Trafford. Benjamin Sesko managed to pull one back for United in the 85th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation.
The frustration for Manchester United was compounded when 18-year-old substitute Shea Lacey was sent off in the final minute for dissent, a decision that also led to caretaker manager Fletcher being booked for complaining to the referee. The disappointing performance and result were witnessed by club legend Sir Alex Ferguson, who was in attendance alongside Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt and appeared visibly displeased. This FA Cup elimination further unravels United's campaign, which has seen them win only once in their last seven games. The club is now expected to announce a new interim manager to replace Fletcher within 48 to 72 hours, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick reportedly among the candidates for the role.