Man United crashes out of FA Cup

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Managerless Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton yesterday.

At the end of a week that saw the storied Premier League team fire head coach Ruben Amorim, the loss at Old Trafford has likely consigned United to another trophyless season and was greeted with loud jeers from the home crowd.

Interim coach Darren Fletcher admitted the 20-time English champions were “not in a good moment”, but said it was too soon to write the season off with Champions League qualification still achievable.

“It’s probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because they’ve been winning cups and challenging for the Premier League,” he said. “Don’t waste the season. That would be the challenge that I would set. That’s the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year.”

Former United striker Danny Welbeck scored what proved the decisive goal in the 64th minute, and Benjamin Sesko’s late header was only a consolation for the hosts in the third-round match.

United have exited both domestic knockout competitions at the earliest possible stage this season, following the humbling loss to fourth-tier Grimsby in the English League Cup. The latest defeat means United will play the bare minimum of 40 competitive games for a top division team this season.

Their only chance of silverware this term is the Premier League, which would require a remarkable turnaround with United currently seventh in the standings and 17 points behind leaders Arsenal with 17 games left.

A trophyless campaign would be back-to-back seasons in which United have ended up empty-handed.

The club’s hierarchy hope an interim coach will be able to salvage the season by securing Champions League qualification. United have spoken to former players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking on the role until the summer. Fletcher, who has taken charge of the two games since Amorim’s departure, is also a contender, as well as former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The loss to Brighton underlined the challenge facing the interim coach.

“Any time you come in at Manchester United, it’s a massive job,” Fletcher said. “It’s not about a manager, it’s not about directors. It’s about everyone and the players have to group together, take responsibility, find a way of improving quickly, and taking on the challenge for the rest of the season.”

Brajan Gruda fired Brighton ahead in the 12th, with Welbeck doubling the advantage after the break. Sesko scored his third goal in two games in the 85th, but substitute Shea Lacey was sent off four minutes later and United could not force an equaliser to take the game to extra time.

“I gave it my best and ultimately, I’m disappointed to not be able to win a game or to get a result today,” said Fletcher, who drew his other game in charge 2-2 with relegation-fighting Burnley.

Yesterday’s Results

Derby 1-3 Leeds

Portsmout 1-4 Arsenal

Hull 0-0 Blackburn (4-3)

Swansea 2-2 West Brom (5-6)

Norwich 5-1 Walsall

West Ham 2-1 QPR

Sheffield 3-4 Mansfield Town

Man United 1-2 Brighton