Manchester United's tumultuous season took another turn for the worse as they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by a determined Brighton & Hove Albion side. The Seagulls secured a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, leaving the Red Devils managerless and without a realistic chance of silverware this season.

The game marked Darren Fletcher's first home game as interim manager, following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier in the week. Fletcher, a former United midfielder, had overseen a 2-2 draw against Burnley in his first match in charge, but was unable to inspire his team to victory against a clinical Brighton side.

Brighton drew first blood in the first half, with Brajan Gruda putting them ahead. United struggled to respond, and Brighton maintained their lead into the break. The Seagulls extended their lead in the 64th minute through Danny Welbeck, a former Manchester United player, who scored a superb goal.

With the clock ticking, United found a glimmer of hope in the 85th minute when Benjamin Sesko headed home from a Bruno Fernandes corner. However, their comeback efforts were hampered when substitute Shea Lacey received a red card for two yellow card offenses. Despite a late surge, United were unable to find an equalizer, and Brighton held on to secure a historic victory.

The final whistle was met with a mixture of boos and silence at Old Trafford, reflecting the disappointment of the United faithful. While United's performance wasn't terrible, Brighton were more clinical and deserved the win. Interim manager Darren Fletcher reacted after the match to the loss.

The loss compounds Manchester United's problems, leaving them without a permanent manager and out of the FA Cup. Their only remaining hope for silverware this term has now vanished. The club will need to act quickly to appoint a new manager and address the team's shortcomings if they are to salvage anything from this season.

For Brighton, this victory marks a significant milestone, their first ever FA Cup win against Manchester United. The Seagulls' Steeley dominated in goal. The team's belief in each other was evident, and they showed that they can achieve anything.