Manchester United‘s problems mounted as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton on Sunday.
In just their second game since the departure of Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils looked toothless in attack, and succumbed to goals from Brajan Gruda in the 12th minute and Danny Welbeck in the 65th minute.
Benjamin Sesko managed to pull a goal back in the 85th minute, but United’s fate was sealed when Shea Lacey was given a second yellow card for dissent in the final minute of normal time.
Defensive disorganisation and toothless attack
It was a horror show at both ends of the pitch for Man Utd on Sunday.
Darren Fletcher’s side struggled for long periods to create meaningful openings, managing just seven shots on target throughout the match. And when they did find gaps in the Brighton defence, they continued to show the sort of profligacy that has cost them so many times this season, missing both of their big chances.
Benjamin Sesko hit the target with just one of his first three shots and missed 0.25 xG’s worth of efforts, while Matheus Cunha missed the target with all three of his attempts.
That said, Brighton should also be given credit for a huge defensive effort, which saw them make 30 clearances, 22 tackles, three blocks and eight interceptions.
Nevertheless, it was more of the same that we’ve become used to from United: disjointed and often disinterested.
The Red Devils were no more convincing at the back either. They allowed a Brighton side with just one win in their last eight before Sunday the freedom to create four big chances from 13 shots at Old Trafford.
Unlike United, Brighton made the most of their chances. Welbeck got behind the United defence in the eighth minute and was allowed to cross too easily by Mason Mount, with the ball finding Gruda for an easy finish. And in the second half, Gruda returned the favour with an inch-perfect pass to Welbeck, who took the ball on the turn and unleashed a ruthless finish beyond Senne Lammens in front of his old supporters — but despite the spectacular nature of the goal, Fletcher will be fuming with just how passive his defenders were in the build-up.
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Man Utd 1-2 Brighton key stats
- Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck each registered a goal and an assist in Brighton’s 2-1 win at Man Utd.
- Brighton have won on four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.
- The Seagulls have also won seven of their last 10 meetings with Man Utd.
- This is the first time Man Utd have exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle since the 1981/82 campaign.
United did finally get a goal, and Sesko did finally take one of his chances, heading home late from a corner. But by then, the damage had already been done, with United falling to a limp defeat and Brighton beating the Red Devils in the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Mainoo shows promise on return to starting XI
If there was one silver lining to the clouds over Old Trafford on Sunday, it was the performance of Kobbie Mainoo.
Starting a senior match for the first time since that infamous EFL Cup defeat at Grimsby in August, the 20-year-old looked like he’d never been away for large parts of his 62 minutes on the pitch.
Mainoo created more chances (3) than any other player during the first half, and by the time he came off, had misplaced just four of his 53 passes at a 92% success rate.
The England international weighed in defensively with three interceptions, one tackle and four recoveries, while he was dispossessed just once.
It wasn’t a perfect performance from Mainoo, who looked especially leggy after the break. But that’s understandable for a player who became so marginalised under Amorim.
However, on the whole, his passing was on point, he was willing to take risks, and offered a dynamic option that United have been sorely lacking.
If United are to take a positive from this FA Cup exit, it has to be the return to prominence of Kobbie Mainoo.