A L B I O N G A Z E T T E - ( xxv )
11 JANUARY 2026
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
EMIRATES FA CUP, THIRD ROUND -
at OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER.
For the second time in four days the Albion travelled to Manchester, this time to meet United at Old Trafford in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup, the match being broadcast by TNT Sports, Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Seagulls had drawn 1-1 at Manchester City in the Premier on the 7 January and for their visit to Old Trafford the Albion made six changes to their starting line-up from the City game, with Jason Steele, Joel Veltman, Diego Coppola, Olivier Boscagli, Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck coming in for Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Maxim De Cuyper, Yasin Ayari and Kaoru Mitoma.
In their previous outing United had drawn 2-2 at Burnley in the Premier on the 7 January and for Albion's visit they made three changes to their starting line-up from the Burnley game, with Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount replacing Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw and Casemiro.
Just prior to the Burnley game United had sacked Head Coach Ruben Amorim and at the helm against Albion was Youth Team Coach Darren Fletcher.
This was Albion's second visit to Old Trafford this season, having gone down 2-4 in the Premier on the 25 October 2025. United conjured up the first two chances of the game, as first Diogo Dalot found himself in the clear but Albion keeper Jason Steele made a superb save to keep out the full-back's shot, then Steele made another excellent save when deflecting Bruno Fernandes shot from distance. On 12 minutes Albion took the lead with a goal of quality when Jack Hinshelwood, Ferdi Kadioglu and Danny Welbeck combined to set-up Brajan Gruda who shot home from close-in to put the Seagulls ahead. 1-0. United keeper Senne Lammens then passed the ball to Welbeck right in front of his goal but Lammens smothered the striker's shot to spare his blushes.
It was now end to end stuff as Joel Veltman and Welbeck saw their efforts miss the target and at the other end efforts by Fernandes and Matheus Cunha suffered a similar fate.
Half-time 1-0.
Second-half saw the game continue in the same vein as the first-half and on 64 minutes the Albion scored a second as Gruda's pass found Welbeck on the edge of the box and the former United man smashed home a superb left-foot shot to put his team two-up.
It was Welbeck's ninth goal of the season. 2-0.
United pulled a goal back on 85 minutes when Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko headed home from Fernandes corner - game on. 2-1. There was still time for United to be reduced to 10-men after young substitute Shea Lacey picked up two yellow cards in the space of two minutes and was promptly sent off by Referee Simon Hooper. The Seagulls comfortably saw out the final minutes to seal themselves a spot in the Fourth Round.
Final-score 2-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 13 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 15.
Manchester United had 19 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
VERDICT - Another excellent performance by the Albion in Manchester and their reward is a trip to Liverpool in the Fourth Round. Danny Welbeck was the stand-out player for the Seagulls as he notched his ninth goal of the season in all competitions, followed closely by keeper Jason Steele.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN (Yasin AYARI 77), Diego COPPOLA, Olivier BOSCAGLI, Ferdi KADIOGLU; Jack HINSHELWOOD, Pascal GROSS; Brajan GRUDA (Tommy WATSON 92), Georginio RUTTER (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 83), Diego GOMEZ (Jan Paul VAN HECKE 77); Danny WELBECK (Kaoru MITOMA 77).
Subs not used: Bart VERBRUGGEN (G/K), Lewis DUNK, Harry HOWELL, Charlie TASKER.
Manchester United line-up (4-2-3-1):- Senne LAMMENS; Diogo DALOT, Leny YORO, Lisandro MARTINEZ (Harry MAGUIRE 79), Patrick DORGU; Manuel UGARTE (CASEMIRO 79), Kobbie MAINOO (Joshua ZIRKZEE 62); Mason MOUNT (Shea LACEY 62), Bruno FERNANDES (Capt), Matheus CUNHA; Benjamin SESKO.
Subs not used: Altay BAYINDIR (G/K), Jack FLETCHER, Tyler FLETCHER, Ayden HEAVEN, Tyrell MALACIA.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Fourth Official: Paul Tierney.
Red Card: Shea Lacey (Manchester United).
Yellow Cards: Manchester United: 4 - Shea Lacey (2), Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo.
Possession: Albion - 40%. Manchester United - 60%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Albion).
Attendance: 73888.
NEXT GAME:
19 JANUARY 2026 - AFC BOURNEMOUTH - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE - KICK-OFF 20.00. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.