FA Cup 3rd Round

Manchester United 1:2 Brighton & Hove Albion

Old Trafford

Kick-off
Sun, 11 January 2026 @ 4:30pm GMT
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    Lucky McLuckerson

    The saviour of our season (ask Maradona10)
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    ..................VS....................
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    Date: Sunday, January 11 2026
    Kickoff Time: 1630 Hrs GMT
    Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester

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    FA Cup Form Guide

    Manchester United: N/A
    Brighton & Hove Albion: N/A


    Previous FA Cup Meetings

    Brighton & Hove Albion 0—0 Manchester United

    Manchester United 2—0 Brighton & Hove Albion

    Manchester United 4—0 Brighton & Hove Albion

    Manchester United 2—2 Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton & Hove Albion 0—2 Manchester United


    All-Time FA Cup Record

    Manchester United wins: 5
    Brighton & Hove Albion wins: 0
    Draws: 3


    Pre-Match Pressers

    Darren Fletcher






    Fabian Hürzeler





    Team News

    Manchester United

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    Brighton & Hove Albion

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    Know The Opposition

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    Brighton & Hove Albion (nicknamed The Seagulls and Albion) are a professional football club based in Brighton & Hove. The club was first formed as Brighton & Hove United on 24 June 1901, and the name was quickly changed to Brighton & Hove Albion. The club took the place of a defunct club, Brighton & Hove Rover, in the Southern League In the Southern League they won their only national honour to date, the FA Charity Shield, by defeating Football League Champions Aston Villa in 1910. There had previously been Old Brightonians, representing the area in the FA Cup in the 19th Century. The club initially played at the Hove County Ground, with a few games were also at Goldstone Ground that was used by Hove F.C. From 1902 onwards, Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. and Hove F.C. shared the Gladstone Ground. In 1920, 19 years after the club was formed, they were elected to the Football League's new Third Division.

    Mismanagement brought Brighton close to relegation from the Football League to the Conference which they narrowly avoided in 1997 and 1998. A boardroom takeover saved Brighton from liquidation, and following successive promotions they returned to the second tier of English football in 2002, from then on playing in the second and third tiers of English football until the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, where the club earned promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history, marking the end of a 34-year absence from the top flight. Bighton's fans consider Crystal Palace to be their biggest rival with matches between them termed the M23 derby, and they play their home games at Falmer Stadium.


    Referee

    Simon Hooper.


    Familiar Faces

    Danny Welbeck (1999—2014)

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    I think we'll look a lot better.
     
    Expect us to lose here and the season to fall apart. Can't even beat the shite teams.
     
    We cannot beat literally the worst EPL teams so we have no business beating a halfway decent one.

    Only chance is to shithouse a draw and go to penalties.
     
    Cameroon vs Morocco in AFCON on the 9th. One of Mbeumo or Mazraoui will be back. Likely Mbeumo. Big ask to start him so soon after but I would.

    I know this won’t be the team but I’d like to see it.

    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Dorgu
    Casemiro - Heaven
    Mbeumo - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko​
     
    Bwuk said:
    Cameroon vs Morocco in AFCON on the 9th. One of Mbeumo or Mazraoui will be back. Likely Mbeumo. Big ask to start him so soon after but I would.

    I know this won’t be the team but I’d like to see it.

    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Dorgu
    Casemiro - Heaven
    Mbeumo - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko​
    Click to expand...
    Thanks for that info.
     
    Todd said:
    We cannot beat literally the worst EPL teams so we have no business beating a halfway decent one.
    Click to expand...
    You know better that this isn’t how it works so why post such crap. We literally beat this exact team earlier in the season.
     
    We play better against teams who open up and play, should be a few goals in it and will be a tough game but we’re at home, the crowd will be up for it and I think the players will be as well.

    If Mbeumo is back he has to play, if not I’d play Mount there.

    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Dorgu
    Casemiro - Ugarte
    Mbeumo - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko​

    But I think Fletcher will pick Shaw still unfortunately.

    Still desperate for a top class RB and CM (2 really), but is Sesko keeps scoring regularly it’ll start to look like a proper team.
     
    Lammens
    Dalot Yoro Martinez Shaw
    Mainoo Ugarte
    Bruno Cunha Dorgu
    Sesko​

    Minor changes, Casemiro needs a rest and let's get Yoro a start at RCB. Cunha stays as no Mbeumo or Amad yet.
     
    I'll say this with confidence, Casemiro shouldn't start another game if possible. Also, Dorgu should probably be the starting fullback instead of Shaw. We should be getting more service into the attacking area for Sesko, especially to further utilise his elite arial ability. Other than that, we play a lot better when we go for it in games.
     
    Ollie Derbyshire said:
    We play better against teams who open up and play, should be a few goals in it and will be a tough game but we’re at home, the crowd will be up for it and I think the players will be as well.

    If Mbeumo is back he has to play, if not I’d play Mount there.

    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Dorgu
    Casemiro - Ugarte
    Mbeumo - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko​

    But I think Fletcher will pick Shaw still unfortunately.

    Still desperate for a top class RB and CM (2 really), but is Sesko keeps scoring regularly it’ll start to look like a proper team.
    Click to expand...

    He's playing on Friday for Cameroon.
     
    No matter results in AFCON, none of these players will feature a few days later with no training with Fletcher and the team.
    I would go:
    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Shaw
    Casemiro - Mainoo
    Lacey - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko

    I'm really no fan of Dalot and would like someone to replace Casemiro in midfield, but the reality is, we haven't got anyone else there at the moment. Still a strong team, and we should win this.
     
    Danish Wizard said:
    No matter results in AFCON, none of these players will feature a few days later with no training with Fletcher and the team.
    I would go:
    Lammens
    Dalot - Yoro - Martinez - Shaw
    Casemiro - Mainoo
    Lacey - Bruno - Cunha
    Sesko

    I'm really no fan of Dalot and would like someone to replace Casemiro in midfield, but the reality is, we haven't got anyone else there at the moment. Still a strong team, and we should win this.
    Click to expand...

    Like that side, would love to see Lacey get a start, feels like it might be a big ask but from his cameo no reason why not! I dont think he'll drop Casemiro but a little harsh to drop Ugarte as i think he's played well of late, and give us more legs in CM but really keen for Kobbie to start.
     
    edgecutter said:
    Expect us to lose here and the season to fall apart. Can't even beat the shite teams.
    Click to expand...
    Football is not that easy. We were unlucky to get nothing from our first game against Arsenal, we beat Liverpool and Chelsea, we beat Brighton last time we played them. We can beat any team if we have a good day. And players are coming back from injuries now as well.
     
    I don't expect much change, but hopefully Mainoo can start and be subbed off this time. See if he can get some match sharpness for City/Arsenal and then if we have a chance of achieving much, it'll be the games after those with (hopefully) a full squad in a better shape.

    Lammens
    Dalot Heaven Martinez Shaw
    Casemiro Mainoo
    Dorgu Bruno Cunha
    Sesko​

    I'd like us to start the game something like this and finish it with:


    Lammens
    Dalot Maguire Martinez Shaw
    Ugarte Thwaites
    Lacey Mount Cunha
    Sesko​
     
    CallyRed said:
    Let’s hope if he gets on he doesn't try anything too expressive unless it's an xG chance of at least 0.30.
    Click to expand...

    If you're gonna insult me at least tag me. He's allowed to take on any shots he wants as long as they go in, or at least work the keeper.

    I'd rather us qualify for the next round with tap ins than go out talking about great shots that were nearly on target.
     
    We absolutely can't see a Casemiro Mainoo midfield two. They're both too slow, they'll get walked through and they'll leave other players exposed.

    If Mainoo has to start (not sure why) then we need to play an actual midfield 3. Ugarte, Mount, Mainoo would at least be balanced.
     
    Assuming these players are fit to start, I'd go with:

    Bayindir
    Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Dorgu
    Ugarte, Mainoo
    Lacey, Bruno, Mount
    Sesko

    I think Shaw and Casemiro are probably due a rest and quite a few of the other players could do with some minutes in their legs returning from injury/out of favour. It should be a good opportunity to give Lacey a start and I while I wouldn't mind Zirkzee starting I think we should try and have Sesko build some momentum.
     
    You never trust Utd to keep a clean sheet, even against the 3 worse PL teams there have been, so knowing we have to score 2-3 goals (and therefore create 20+ attempts) to win just fills me with dread! Caution to the wind stuff, lets attack and see where that gets us.
     
    Really tough draw, just have to hope we take our chances because the defence isn't keeping a clean sheet. Hard to know what happens.
     
    Can't afford to hand out pity minutes in this one like we did for many players against Grimsby. Has to go for the strongest team.
     
    Mbeumo is playing at 7pm on Friday in a different continent. He won't be in contention for a match that's less than 48 hours later.
     
    Casemiro looked very tired and leggy from the KO in the Burnley game.
    He got into his stride after a while but was totally sha@@ed by the time he was subbed off.
    He has to be rested for this one.
    Ugarte played well and was one of the more positive performers, until Bruno went off and our CM started to fall apart.
    Brighton will try and play quickly, carving through our CM, if we let them, so a 3 man CM is essential if we’re to win this match.
    So it’s Ugarte, Mainoo, Mount in CM with Bruno up behind Sesko and Cunha, for me.
     
    Normally a bit of a Gaylord and think we’re going to win every match but just don’t see it here

    Probably 4-0 United
     
    United absolutely love a draw so expect a long game.

    Let’s hope Maguire has been giving a masterclass in how to take a penalty this week.

    Q: How is Lammens at saving penalties?
     
    Another draw highly likely in this game so that will be extra time extra and then potentially penalties to decide the winner.

    Uniteds last FA cup match was a home penalty shoot-out loss to a Fulham side who would get hammered 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace in the following round

    Brighton themselves was also knocked out of the FA Cup last season via a penalty shootout to Nottingham Forest and of course the last Brighton v Man United FA Cup tie (semi-final a few years ago)United won after a penalty shoot-out.
     
    Teams who sit back cause us more issues than teams who want to have a go. Brighton will come out and try to attack us, that suits us. I'm hoping Sessko has finally found his mojo and would be great to see him add to his tally. Central mid is still a very problematic area for us. Casemiro could barely walk v Burnley, let alone run. He has to be rested for this one, but is Mainoo up for 90 mins due to lack of activity and recent injuries. I hate when we play, we typically switch the most important area of the team ie centre mid after 60 mins or so, usually because Casemiro is shattered. It upsets any rhythm and kind of balance we have. I could see us starting Mainoo but having to sub after 60-70 mins, not ideal.
     
    Hopefully the crowd can carry us over the line in this one, Brighton will be licking their lips given their record against us and how easy we are to score against.
     
    RuudTom83 said:
    United absolutely love a draw so expect a long game.

    Let’s hope Maguire has been giving a masterclass in how to take a penalty this week.

    Q: How is Lammens at saving penalties?
    Click to expand...
    Good record in Belgium
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Benjamin Sesko image Benjamin Sesko 51% of 148 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

4.4 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

82,31,19
  • Man Utd win
  • Brighton win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 31% Man Utd 2:1 Brighton
  • 14% Man Utd 1:2 Brighton
  • 9% Man Utd 3:1 Brighton
  • 8% Man Utd 3:2 Brighton
  • 7% Man Utd 1:1 Brighton
  • 6% Man Utd 2:0 Brighton
  • 5% Man Utd 2:2 Brighton
  • 4% Man Utd 1:3 Brighton
  • 4% Man Utd 0:2 Brighton
  • 3% Man Utd 3:0 Brighton
  • 2% Man Utd 0:0 Brighton
  • 2% Man Utd 1:0 Brighton
  • 2% Man Utd 4:1 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 0:1 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 3:3 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 0:3 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 4:0 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 2:4 Brighton
  • 1% Man Utd 4:3 Brighton
Compiled from 132 predictions.
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