Manchester United have bowed out of every cup competition at the first time of asking as they tripped at the first hurdle in the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at home to Brighton.
Goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck did the damage and while Benjamin Sesko handed United a lifeline with a late header, it wasn’t enough.
It means Darren Fletcher has failed to win either of his two matches in charge as interim boss, with a caretaker manager until the end of the season expected to be appointed early this week.
Daily Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT was at Old Trafford to run the rule over the sides…
Danny Welbeck (right) once again came back to haunt his old team by scoring at Old Trafford
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Senne Lammens – 5.5
Made a calamitous error to pass it to Welbeck inside the box 15 minutes in but managed to get a hand on it to make amends quickly and spare his blushes. Exposed for the first goal and the second from Welbeck was straight out of the top drawer. Another game without a clean sheet… those are adding up.
Diogo Dalot – 4.5
Missed a gilt-edged chance two minutes in when one versus one that would have totally altered the complexion of the match. His heavy touch allowed Steele time to smother him and minutes later he was picked out in the box and lashed over. Didn’t make a positive impact offensively or defensively on the day. A significant drop off from his recent uptick in form.
Leny Yoro – 5
Didn’t do a great deal wrong in an odd match where United will have felt happy with large spells of it. But he was caught in two minds rushing out to the right in the moments before the opening goal, and he was too easily bamboozled by Welbeck as he lashed in goal No 2.
Lisandro Martinez – 5
Cleared Rutter’s header off the line and could do nothing about Gruda’s thrashed follow up. But watch that opening goal back and you have to ask why Martinez made the decision to leave Rutter unmarked for a free header a few yards out? A puzzling call, even with the height mismatch.
Lisandro Martinez had his hands full and got his decision making wrong for the first goal
Patrick Dorgu – 6
Was tasked with marking the very busy Brajan Gruda in this one and the Dane will be kicking himself that he lost sight of Brighton’s No 8 for the opening goal of the game. He was a much bigger threat down the left than Dalot or Mount proved to be down the right but was just lacking with the final ball.
Manuel Ugarte – 5
Looked to have turned a corner since the second half at Leeds when he was aggressive and dominant in duels. This was all a bit of a mess, though, as he could not deal with Brighton’s press and make-up in midfield. This looked a lot more like an Erik ten Hag team than a Ruben Amorim one and that meant an exposed midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo – 5
First start at Old Trafford since May and a first start of any kind since Grimsby Town away. Got the biggest cheer of the day when his name was announced in the line-up but, truthfully, the pivot of Mainoo and Ugarte was overwhelmed by Brighton. Needs to get stronger.
Mason Mount – 4.5
Easy to draw parallels to Matheus Cunha’s first half at Burnley where he was a total non-factor. Similar story for Mount here. Out on the right and from an attacking point of view he was anonymous, while defensively he did not do enough to stop Welbeck’s cross for the opener. A big loser of moving away from Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 but that alone cannot be an excuse.
Mason Mount was wasted on the right and he could be a big loser of a change in shape
Bruno Fernandes – 6.5
Took a nasty whack to the face pre-match that caused a bloody nose (something that would foreshadow what was to come for United). Forced a full stretch save from Steele during a bright opening and almost caught Brighton out with a free-kick that flew under the jumping wall. Never stopped running and got rewarded with an assist for Sesko’s header.
Matheus Cunha – 5.5
Unquestionably a top player but he isn’t influencing games enough for a player of his ability. Too often he found his first touch letting him down when United did manage to find a way through this aggressive Brighton press. Key for a new manager will be finding a way to best platform Cunha and Fernandes in the same team because no one has managed it to this point.
Benjamin Sesko – 6.5
Looked set for a frustrating afternoon when Steele tipped his low drive narrowly wide in a demoralising second half. But he stuck at it and United (finally) played to his strengths late on when he nodded in Fernandes’ corner to give United a lifeline in front of the Stretford End. That’s three in two now and getting him going could be the catalyst United’s season needs.
INTERIM MANAGER: Darren Fletcher – 5
His first game at Old Trafford where he is leading out the first team and it ultimately ended in a bitterly disappointing cup exit. Made changes – and didn’t give his son Tyler his debut which may have been tempting – but was out coached by Fabian Hurzeler, in truth.
Darren Fletcher (right) will be bitterly disappointed not to have won either of his two matches
SUBS
Joshua Zirkzee (for Kobbie Mainoo, 62) – 5
Shea Lacey (for Mason Mount, 62) – 4
Harry Maguire (for Lisandro Martinez, 79) – 6
Casemiro (for Manuel Ugarte, 79) – 6
Brighton (4-2-3-1)
Steele 7.5; Veltman 6 (Ayari 77), Coppola 6.5, Boscagli 7, Kadioglu 7.5; Gruda 8 (Watson 90+2), Gross 6.5; Hinshelwood 6, Diego Gómez 6 (Van Hecke 77), Rutter 6.5 (Kostoulas 83); Welbeck 7.5 (Mitoma 77)
Goals: Gruda (12), Welbeck (64)
Booked: Veltman, Kostoulas
Manager: Fabian Hurzeler 8
Referee: Simon Hooper 6
