Manchester United F.C. vs Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Stats (11 January 2026)

FA Cup: Manchester United F.C. vs Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. – Third Round Result

Detail	Information
Date	Sunday 11 January 2026
Venue	Old Trafford
Attendance	73,888
Full-time Score	Manchester United 1–2 Brighton
Half-time Score	Manchester United 0–1 Brighton

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Goals & Key Events

Goals

Team	Player	Minute
Brighton	Brajan Gruda	12′
Brighton	Danny Welbeck	64′
Man United	Benjamin Šeško	85′

Assists

Team	Player	Minute
Brighton	Brajan Gruda	64′
Man United	Bruno Fernandes	85′

Discipline

Team	Player	Incident	Minute
Man United	Shea Lacey	Second yellow / Red card	89′

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Manchester United F.C. vs Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Stats Comparison

Stat	Man United	Brighton
Possession	59.6%	40.4%
Shots	19	13
Shots on Target	8	4
Shots off Target	8	5
Touches in Opposition Box	31	23
Corners	6	1
Goalkeeper Saves	1	7
Aerial Duels Won	10	11
Fouls Committed	11	15

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Passing & Distribution

Stat	Man United	Brighton
Total Passes	523	360
Pass Accuracy	85.1%	81.7%
Forward Passes	161	132
Backward Passes	82	67
Long Balls	40	54
Final Third Passes	117	61
Crosses	25	8

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Defensive Actions

Stat	Man United	Brighton
Tackles	23	22
Tackle Success	52.2%	50%
Clearances	13	30
Clearances off Line	1	0
Yellow Cards	2	1

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Manchester United – Player Ratings

Player	Rating
S. Lammens	4.16
Benjamin Šeško	4.11
Kobbie Mainoo	3.81
Bruno Fernandes	3.78
Patrick Dorgu	3.76
Harry Maguire	3.75
Matheus Cunha	3.67
Lisandro Martínez	3.60
Shea Lacey	3.50
Leny Yoro	3.47
Casemiro	3.38
Mason Mount	3.31
Manuel Ugarte	3.21
Diogo Dalot	3.20
Joshua Zirkzee	3.13

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Brighton – Player Ratings

Player	Rating
Danny Welbeck	8.54
Brajan Gruda	7.93
Jason Steele	7.83
Pascal Groß	7.73
Ferdi Kadıoğlu	7.58
Joël Veltman	7.52
Georginio Rutter	7.46
Jack Hinshelwood	7.40
Oliver Boscagli	7.38
Kaoru Mitoma	7.31
Diego Gómez	7.31
Diego Coppola	7.30
Christos Kostoulas	7.21
T. Watson	7.18
Jan Paul van Hecke	7.16
Yasin Ayari	7.07

Manchester United dominated the stats for large periods of their FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton, but the statistics underline how that control failed to translate into the result.

United finished the match with 59.6% possession, completed 523 passes, and registered 19 shots, yet were beaten 2–1 at Old Trafford. Brighton were far more economical, creating fewer chances but taking the decisive moments when they mattered.

Despite United recording eight shots on target compared to Brighton’s four, the visitors’ defensive resilience and goalkeeping proved crucial.

Brighton’s goalkeeper was forced into seven saves, while United’s keeper made just one, reflecting how Brighton absorbed pressure before striking clinically. United also had a strong territorial presence, with 31 touches inside the opposition box and six corners, but struggled to turn sustained pressure into goals until Benjamin Šeško’s late header.

Brighton’s efficiency stood out in contrast. With only 40.4% possession and 360 total passes, they relied on direct attacking moments and quick transitions. Goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck came from decisive phases of play rather than sustained dominance, while Brighton also edged United in physical contests, winning 11 aerial duels to United’s 10 and committing more fouls as they disrupted rhythm.

The player ratings reinforce the statistical story. Brighton’s top performers were rewarded with high scores, led by Danny Welbeck’s standout rating of 8.54, reflecting his match-winning impact.

United’s ratings were notably lower across the board, with most starters clustered in the low-to-mid threes, highlighting a performance that looked strong on paper but lacked cutting edge. In the end, the numbers paint a familiar picture for United: control without conviction, and a Brighton side that maximised efficiency to secure a famous cup win.