No bounce for Fletcher as United old boy Welbeck puts Brighton through in Cup

Manchester United exited the FA Cup with little more than a whimper.

Brighton and Hove Albion's Danny Welbeck celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at Old Trafford. Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. 

FA Cup Third Round: Manchester United 1 Brighton 2 

DANNY Welbeck provided the latest reminder of his predatory goal-scoring skills to effectively end his old club's season and ensure their FA Cup haul remains on an unlucky 13.

The former Manchester United striker's ninth goal of the season midway through the second-half doubled his side's advantage as the hosts exited the competition with little more than a whimper.

Fabian Hurzeler could afford to make six changes and field a new centre-back pairing as Brighton inflicted on their hosts only a third exit at this stage of the competition in the last 41 years.

Welbeck, who was involved in Brajan Gruda's third goal of the season early in the first-half, fired home what turned out to be the winning goal just after hour, applying a deft touch to the German midfielder's pass before thumping an unstoppable shot left-footed into the top corner from just inside the area.

Brighton have won four of their last five visits to Old Trafford and it was another largely lethargic display from United, who finished the contest with 10 men after teenage substitute Shea Lacey petulantly threw the ball away while already on a booking in the closing minutes.

The hosts were complicit in their own downfall as Brighton took a 12th minute lead when Leny Yoro and Mason Mount allowed Welbeck too much time and space inside the box.

The England forward's cross was met by Georginio Rutter, whose header was cleared off the line by Lisandro Martinez. There was no second reprieve as Gruda followed up to score from close range.

Welbeck should have doubled the advantage within two minutes but his unconvincing shot allowed Senne Lammens to spare his own blushes with a scrambling save after the United keeper inexplicably passed the ball straight to the Brighton forward on the edge of the hosts' area.

Jason Steele produced two fine saves inside the opening 10 minutes to thwart Diogo Dalot from a defence-splitting Matheus Cunha pass and a low Bruno Fernandes effort at a well-worked free-kick.

Those two scares aside, a miscued attempted lob by Benjamin Sesko with the Brighton keeper in no man's land was the only other threatening opening the hosts created before the break.

Joel Veltman produced a classic defender's finish when lashing a semi-decent opportunity well over after a free-kick into the area fell invitingly for the unmarked full-back 18 yards out as Hurzeler's side pressed for a second.

Welbeck showed the Dutchman how it should be done with an unerring finish that still failed to spark United to life until Sesko headed home a Fernandes corner with five minutes left as Steele was left embarrassed at his near post.

Lacey's needless departure ensured an already toothless attack had even fewer options to ensure an underwhelming end to Darren Fletcher's interim reign as Brighton celebrated their first FA Cup victory over United at the seventh attempt.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Lammens 5; Diogo Dalot 5, Yoro 5, Martinez 6 (Maguire 79, 5), Dorgu 5; Ugarte 4 (Casemiro 79, 5), Mainoo 6 (Zirkzee 62, 5); Mount 3 (Lacey 62, 2), Bruno Fernandes 6, Matheus Cunha 5; Sesko 6. Sent off: Lacey. Booked: Mainoo, Maguire.

BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Steele 7; Veltman 7 (Ayari 78, 6), Coppola 7, Boscagli 7, Kadioglu 8; Hinshelwood 7, Gross 8; Gruda 8 (Watson 90, 6), Rutter 6 (Kostoulas 83, 5), Gomez 6 (van Hecke 78, 6); Welbeck 8 (Mitoma 78, 6). Booked: Kostoulas 

Referee: Simon Hooper