Fletcher told by fellow Scottish legend exactly why his United side lost against Brighton in the FA Cup

Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in what was a bitter FA Cup defeat. With the team still getting used to life without Ruben Amorim, it’s clear that they were in desperate need of a decisive manager who could lead them forward. Apart from a late Benjamin Sesko goal, there was little to write home about Man United’s performance. For pundit and former Rangers star, Ally McCoist, the reason behind the home team’s defeat was clear as day. The kink in the armour When asked on TNT Sports if Brighton deserved their win, McCoist responded, “Without question.” “They were the better players on the pitch. I mentioned Welbeck coming back here – a place he knows very well – making the opening goal and scoring a wonderful winner, but generally all over the pitch there were some good performances,” he continued. “They had a lot of possession, Man United, but I think they just didn’t do enough with it, they didn’t threaten the goal enough,” the former Scottish international observed. “Clearly, the second goal knocked the stuffing out of the crowd as much as anything. Then, to pull a goal back with Sesko, you think the place gets going again, and it does to a certain degree. But it’s as if there’s a kind of acceptance, there’s no real belief within the stadium. It’s as if there’s a kind of acceptance now of where United are and what’s happening.” McCoist’s words ring true for many United fans, who have become all too accustomed to underperformances from their team. It’s all in the numbers The football pundit’s words ring especially true when looking at the numbers from the match. United retained 60% possession of the ball while taking 19 shots. Meanwhile, Brighton got 13 shots on goal with just 40% possession. United also made a colossal 524 passes, compared to just 361 by the visitors. Ultimately, it was much like McCoist explained. The team had plenty of possession, even dominating the flow of play to a large extent, but lacked the final product, which is the only thing that counts. Hopefully, they can eventually find their groove as they navigate the post-Amorim era. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.