Manchester United’s season spiralled further into crisis as the managerless Red Devils were dumped out of the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.

Brajan Gruda handed Brighton the lead in the first half, before former United striker Danny Welbeck returned to haunt his old club after the break.

Benjamin Sesko’s late goal proved mere consolation as United crashed out in the third round, with teenager Shea Lacey sent off in the dying moments.

Furious supporters booed relentlessly as another bleak chapter unfolded in a season marked by confusion and decline.

Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher has failed to arrest the slide following Ruben Amorim’s shock dismissal, with United now scrambling to appoint an interim manager until the season’s end.

Former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick have both been linked to the role, but the turmoil at Old Trafford makes the job increasingly unattractive.

Welbeck, now 35, was part of United’s last Premier League title-winning side in 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson, who watched in disbelief as the current team unravelled.

United, seventh in the Premier League, are winless in four matches and have claimed just one victory in their last seven outings.

With clashes against Manchester City and Arsenal looming, there is little sign of respite.

After an embarrassing League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby earlier this season, United have now exited both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82.

Brighton, seeking revenge for their 2023 FA Cup semi-final loss, have now won four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.

Kobbie Mainoo started only his second game of the season as Casemiro was benched among three changes from the Burnley draw.

Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele made early saves to deny Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.

Those misses proved costly as Brighton struck in the 12th minute, with Welbeck initiating the move that led to Gruda’s close-range finish.

United’s disarray deepened as chants against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family echoed around the stadium.

Fernandes fired a free kick wide, while Matheus Cunha narrowly missed as boos rang out at halftime.

Mainoo was withdrawn after a muted second-half showing that did little to challenge Amorim’s earlier snub.

Brighton capitalised again in the 64th minute, with Welbeck finishing clinically to make it 2-0.

Sesko’s late header briefly ignited hope, but United collapsed again as Lacey was sent off for a moment of petulance, summing up a painful afternoon.

AFP