Most passes completed, most chances created: this United class act can hold his head high despite FA Cup exit to Brighton

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo produced a top display despite the club’s embarrassing defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, which has seen them eliminated from the FA Cup. United dumped out of FA Cup A defensively frail United slumped to a 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat at the hands of Brighton. Mainoo was handed just his second start of the campaign as Darren Fletcher made just three changes to the side that drew with Burnley last week. United came close to going ahead when Diogo Dalot was presented with a golden chance to score but the defender could not supply the finishing touch. Bruno threatened again with an intelligent free-kick but he just dragged his attempt wide. The Red Devils were made to pay for these missed opportunities when Brajan Gruda fired Brighton in front, fully capitalising on some pitiful defending from the hosts. Brighton almost made it 2-0 just moments later from a Senne Lammens mistake. United struggled to get into a rhythm after the break, and their woes were compounded as Danny Welbeck doubled the Seagulls’ advantage in the 64th minute of proceedings. Benjamin Sesko pulled one back for United late on with an excellent headed finish, but it was simply a case of too little too late for the side, who finished the game with 10 men after substitute Shea Lacey was sent off for a second bookable offence. Mainoo’s performance Mainoo is one of the few United players who can hold their head up after an outing where effort was simply lacking. Slotting next to Manuel Ugarte, Mainoo was responsible for most of the little control United managed in the middle of the park. He was very good in possession, did well when dropping deep to collect the ball from the defence and played it forward at every possible opportunity. The England international managed a 92% pass accuracy, which is more than any other player on the pitch. He touched the ball 64 times. Five of Mainoo’s passes were delivered into the final third. He made four defensive contributions while also creating more chances than anyone else. StatisticValue Pass Accuracy92% Total Touches64 Passes into Final Third5 Defensive Contributions4 Fouls Won1 Kobbie Mainoo’s game by numbers vs. Brighton: 92% pass accuracy 64 total touches 5 passes into the final third4 defensive contributions 1 foul won Completed more passes and created more chances than any other player on the pitch. 📈 pic.twitter.com/J7LnAkKqcn — Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 11, 2026 Constantly overlooked by Ruben Amorim, Kobbie Mainoo proved why that was a mistake, standing out as United’s best player in a losing effort. The focus now shifts to Saturday’s crucial derby against Manchester City. Featured image Jan Kruger 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 Latest Top Stories… Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!