Manchester United bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the first hurdle after a disappointing defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
Brajan Gruda opened the scoring early on for the visitors and former United striker Danny Welbeck doubled the advantage after the break. Benjamin Sesko headed a late consolation for the Reds, who had substitute Shea Lacey sent off for two yellow cards in the closing stages.
The Reds had beaten the Seagulls 4-2 in the league in October in M16 but could not repeat the feat in our first home game of 2026 as we went out of the FA Cup in the third round of the competition for the first time since 2013/14.
Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher, in charge of his second match as interim head coach, made three changes from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Burnley. Casemiro and Ayden Heaven were named among the substitutes but Luke Shaw missed only his second game of the campaign. The trio were replaced in the XI by Mason Mount, Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo, the latter making his second start in all competitions this term.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler made six changes from their midweek 1-1 draw at Manchester City, with Welbeck as captain among those recalled.
FIRST HALF - REDS TRAIL TO EARLY GRUDA GOAL
The Reds - lining up in a back four, with Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu dropping deeper into the left-back berth - created the first opening in the second minute. Diogo Dalot was released through the middle by Matheus Cunha but a heavy touch allowed Seagulls goalkeeper Jason Steele to block his attempt, before our no.2 sent a second shot over the crossbar moments later.
Steele was called upon again in the seventh minute to turn a low Bruno Fernandes effort around the post, after Mainoo laid a free-kick off into the captain’s path around 25 yards out.
But against the run of play, the visitors took the lead in the 12th minute. Welbeck’s left-wing cross picked out Georginio Rutter, whose header was well cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez but Gruda was on hand to slam home the loose ball from close range.
Two minutes later, Senne Lammens made amends for his attempted pass being intercepted by Welbeck by making a crucial save to deny the Brighton frontman before Rutter poked over the crossbar, albeit from an offside position.
At the other end, Martinez’s clipped pass found Benjamin Sesko, whose lobbed attempt was saved by Steele before Cunha whistled a right-footed effort over the crossbar as the Reds continued to largely control proceedings.
Martinez - who made his 100th United appearance against Burnley in midweek - was heavily involved at both ends in the first half, with the centre-back drawing a save from Steele from a tight angle after being released by an incisive Dorgu pass.
After Sesko was hauled to the deck by Joel Veltman, Fernandes tried to catch out the Brighton wall by going low with his free-kick but he could only find the side netting and Cunha trickled a 20-yard shot inches wide in stoppage time, as the Seagulls held on to head into the dressing room a goal to the good at the break.
SECOND HALF - WELBECK DOUBLES BRIGHTON LEAD AS REDS EXIT CUP
After making no changes in personnel at the interval, Fletcher geed up the Stretford End as he emerged from the tunnel for the second half. The Reds were on the front foot from the off as Mount guided a fizzing free-kick from the left by Fernandes narrowly over the crossbar.
Our interim head coach turned to the bench just after the hour mark as Lacey - making a maiden first-team outing at Old Trafford - and Joshua Zirkzee were introduced, in place of Mainoo and Mount, to inject some fresh impetus.
But the task was made much harder for the Reds when Welbeck collected Gruda’s pass and arrowed a left-footed finish from 15 yards into the top corner to double Brighton’s lead in the 64th minute.
Sesko brought a low save from Steele after latching onto Dorgu’s pass but the flag was raised for offside, before the Slovenian drifted a header beyond the post from Lacey’s excellent right-wing cross.
Urged on by the home crowd, United - who sent on Harry Maguire and Casemiro from the bench to replace Martinez and Ugarte - did not give up hope of coming back into the tie.
Dorgu attempted an overhead kick which was straight at Steele after the Seagulls defence failed to fully clear a Fernandes cross, before Lacey curled a shot inches over the crossbar and Sesko’s half-volley from the edge of the area was kept out by Steele.
Our no.30 - who netted twice against Burnley on Wednesday night - was not to be denied in the 85th minute when he towered above the Brighton rearguard to sneak a header into the bottom corner from a Fernandes corner and set up a grandstand finish.
However, the Reds were reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute as Lacey - minutes after being shown a first yellow card for a foul - was given a second yellow card by referee Simon Hooper for an act of dissent after a throw-in was awarded to Brighton.
As United pushed right to the end, Maguire’s header from a Fernandes cross was straight at Steele but it wasn’t to be for the Reds, who were beaten by the Seagulls for the first time in the Emirates FA Cup at the seventh attempt and must now focus on the Premier League for the remainder of the season.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Attention now turns to the small matter of the 198th Manchester derby, as the Reds prepare to take on Pep Guardiola’s City at Old Trafford on Saturday (17 January) in the lunchtime kick-off at 12:30 GMT. Keep across the United App and ManUtd.com throughout the week for all the build-up.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Martinez (Maguire 79), Dorgu; Mainoo (Zirkzee 62), Ugarte (Casemiro 79); Mount (Lacey 62), Fernandes (c), Cunha; Sesko.
Unused substitutes: Bayindir, Heaven, Malacia, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher.
Booked: Mainoo, Lacey, Maguire.
Sent off: Lacey 89.
Goal: Sesko 85.
Brighton: Steele; Veltman (Ayari 77), Coppola, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Gross; Gruda (Watson 90+2), Gomez (van Hecke 77), Rutter (Kostoulas 83); Welbeck (c) (Mitoma 78).
Unused substitutes: Verbruggen, Dunk, Tasker, Howell.
Booked: Hurzeler, Kostoulas.
Goals: Gruda 12, Welbeck 64.