Man Utd set unwanted 44-year record as Brighton loss adds to earlier embarrassment - The Mirror

Manchester United's hopes of winning either of the domestic cups are over with the team losing at the first hurdle on both occasions following Brighton's win at Old Trafford

Manchester United's FA Cup hopes were end by Brighton in the third round meaning they've been dumped out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1982.

For 44 years United had managed to at least progress in one round across the two tournaments, but their defeat at the hands of the Seagulls compounds the misery that began when they were humiliated at Grimsby Town.

The dismal campaign from the Red Devils meant that the FA Cup was their only realistic hope of claiming any silverware this season, but those ambitions are now over. Danny Welbeck's strike against his former club ultimately proved to be the match winner for Brighton.

United were second best for long periods on Sunday afternoon and, despite Benjamin Sesko giving them late hope, they couldn't complete a comeback. Earlier this season they had looked to rescue themselves at Blundell Park when, trailing 2-0, they scored twice late on.

On that occasion though they would be beaten on penalties in an epic shootout that saw the League Two side emerge victorious 12-11. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both missing from 12 yards that evening.

In the Premier League the troubled outfit, who remain without a manager after sacking Ruben Amorim, are 17 points off leaders Arsenal, but are still in the hunt for the Champions League places. Their dire campaign last time out means there is no European football.

Diogo Dalot missed chances in the first-half and the Portuguese defender claimed they deserved to win the game, but ultimately have been left licking their wounds as he bemoaned the late red card to Shea Lacey.

He told TNT Sports: "We created enough to win the game to be honest. Then the red card gave us a disadvantage because we were on top of Brighton in the last moments. Overall very disappointed because we wanted to go through. All the lads kept trying to find spaces, like I said really disappointed because I think we deserved to win.

Dalot conceded, with Amorim being dismissed earlier this week and Darren Fletcher coming in as caretaker, that it has been a challenge to negotiate. "Really difficult," he said. "It's always a period that you have to find ways to solve problems really quickly. We have to adapt and go again."

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