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This video can not be played Welbeck scores as Brighton knock Man Utd out of FA Cup At a glance Brajan Gruda drives Brighton into first-half lead Former United striker Danny Welbeck scores second Benjamin Sesko hits late reply, but Shea Lacey sent off for hosts United out of both cup competitions at earliest point for first time in 44 years Darren Fletcher in charge as club still to announce who will replace Ruben Amorim for rest of season PLAYER RATINGS Managerless Manchester United completed an unwanted cup double as former striker Danny Welbeck helped Brighton send them crashing out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford. In front of his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson and with former team-mate Darren Fletcher in interim charge at his old club, Welbeck belted home Brighton's second to send them into the fourth round. It was the 35-year-old's eighth goal against United and his sixth visiting the stadium he used to call home. The thunderous drive into the roof of Senne Lammens' goal doubled a lead given to Brighton by Brajan Gruda's first-half opener. Benjamin Sesko's header five minutes from time breathed life into the home side but 18-year-old home substitute Shea Lacey was sent off in the final minute and Brighton held on for their first ever FA Cup victory against the 13-time winners at the seventh attempt. For United, this defeat followed up the embarrassing EFL Cup second-round exit at League Two Grimsby, meaning they had exited both domestic cup competitions at the earliest possible stage for the first time since 1981-82. It also means Fletcher's two-game stint as interim boss contributed a disappointing Premier League draw against Burnley and this home defeat to a campaign that is beginning to unravel. United have now won once in their last seven games, with title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal their next two opponents. Within the next 48 hours, the club are due to name who will replace Ruben Amorim until the end of the season, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick viewed as the frontrunners. 'Fragile' Man Utd set for fewest games in season since 1914-15 'They'd take him back in a heartbeat' - Welbeck haunts Man Utd again Over the past five weeks, a season that has been delicately placed for weeks has now suddenly lurched downwards to the point where United are staring into the abyss. While seventh in the Premier League is not catastrophic, if results against Manchester City and Arsenal go to form, they could be firmly in the bottom half of the table by the time they entertain Fulham on 1 February, where the 1958 Group of supporters plan a mass demonstration against the ownership. The backdrop could hardly be worse for any new manager and does not offer the same immediate uplift opportunity Solskjaer enjoyed when he replaced Jose Mourinho in 2018. It also means United face a 40-game season, their lowest since before the First World War. This is hardly going to help the financial situation Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pledged to improve, but has now added to substantially twice by sacking managers he backed at the end of the previous season - and to the tune of more than £200m. There was not even consolation today in the form of youth. Teenage forward Lacey is predicted to hit the heights in his career. However, he will not remember his Old Trafford debut fondly. Already booked after being introduced as a substitute with half an hour remaining, Lacey reacted to a decision going against him by bouncing the ball down in disgust and the dismissal left him almost in tears as he left the field. Brighton fans will feel they owed Manchester United one when it came to the FA Cup. They might have won on their last three trips to Old Trafford prior to this season, but in this competition, they had nothing but painful memories. The biggest was that 1983 'Smith must score' FA Cup final, when Seagulls striker Gordon Smith's shot in the last minute at Wembley was saved by Gary Bailey, thus denying them victory, with defeat following in the replay. Three seasons ago, the two sides met at Wembley again. Most observers felt Brighton were clearly the better side in the semi-final, but it was United who prevailed, on penalties. This time Fabian Hurzeler's side got the win they deserved. Aside from the opening couple of minutes, when goalkeeper Jason Steele denied Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes, Brighton looked the more dangerous. The 12th-minute opener came after Georginio Rutter's shot from Welbeck's cross was booted off the line by Patrick Dorgu and Gruda pounced on the rebound. Welbeck claimed the crucial second goal as, while Sesko's late header lifted the home fans, Brighton's players kept calm to confirm a third-round exit for United for only the third time in 41 FA Cup ties. Manchester United entertain local rivals Manchester City in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Saturday, 17 January (12: 30 GMT), while Brighton play Bournemouth at the American Express Stadium on Monday, 19 January (20: 00 GMT). Have your say on Man Utd's performance What did you make of Brighton’s display? After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Manager: Darren Fletcher Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Fabian Hürzeler Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Darren Fletcher Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Fabian Hürzeler Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 FA Cup All competitions All competitions All competitions Manchester United have faced Brighton in six previous FA Cup ties and have been victorious in all six, most recently in the 2022-23 semi-final, winning 7-6 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Brighton have been eliminated from the FA Cup six times by Man Utd, the most they’ve ever been knocked out by one side. They’ve won three of their last four visits to Old Trafford – all in the Premier League – but did lose 4-2 there earlier this season. Manchester United have been knocked out in the FA Cup third round in just two of their last 40 ties at this stage, losing 1-0 to Leeds United in 2009-10 and 2-1 to Swansea City in 2013-14. Brighton have progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup third round ties – the exceptions were against Hull in 2015-16 and Sheffield Wednesday in 2019-20, both 1-0 defeats. Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha has scored in each of his last four FA Cup appearances, all for Wolves between January 2024 and March 2025. Only four Premier League players have scored in five in a row since 1992-93 – Marc Overmars (1998-1999), Darren Bent (2012-2014), Wayne Rooney (2011-2013) and Romelu Lukaku (2014-2016 & 2017-2018). Match ends, Manchester United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2. Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2. Attempt saved. Harry Maguire (Manchester United) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Jason Steele (Brighton and Hove Albion). Assisted by Bruno Fernandes. Leny Yoro (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion). Harry Maguire (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card. Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card. Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Tom Watson replaces Brajan Gruda. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Second yellow card to Shea Lacey (Manchester United). Foul by Shea Lacey (Manchester United). Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Matheus Cunha (Manchester United). Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing. Shea Lacey (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Shea Lacey (Manchester United). Yasin Ayari (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Charalampos Kostoulas is caught offside. Goal! Manchester United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 2. Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bruno Fernandes with a cross following a corner. Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Diego Coppola. Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.