Danny Welbeck once again proved a thorn in Manchester United’s side, as Brighton knocked the Red Devils out of the FA Cup in the third round at Old Trafford — a rare feat achieved by only three teams in the last 43 years.

The former United forward was central to Brighton’s dominance, helping the Seagulls break the deadlock before unleashing a fierce second-half piledriver to double their lead and silence the home crowd. United struggled to find rhythm for most of the contest, looking short on ideas and intensity.

There was late hope for the hosts when Benjamin Šeško powered home a header in the 85th minute to reduce the deficit. However, any momentum from the goal was swiftly extinguished when teenage winger Shea Lacey was sent off just four minutes later for angrily throwing the ball into the ground, leaving United to finish the match with ten men.

The dismissal proved decisive, as United failed to mount a final push and exited yet another cup competition at the first hurdle. With domestic trophies now out of reach, their season hinges heavily on securing European qualification.

The defeat also deals a significant blow to Darren Fletcher’s prospects of being appointed interim manager for the remainder of the campaign, as pressure continues to mount around the club following another disappointing night at Old Trafford.