Manchester United supporters might have sensed trouble early on when a wayward shot from Lisandro Martinez inadvertently struck teammate Bruno Fernandes during warm-ups, leaving him with a bloody nose. The omen foreshadowed Brighton’s mastery on the field, as they eliminated United from the FA Cup at Old Trafford.

It’s been 44 years since England’s most storied football club has experienced early exits from both domestic cup contests in the same season. After an embarrassing defeat to League Two’s Grimsby in the Carabao Cup back in August, United met their match again, falling to Brighton with goals by Brajan Gruda and former United player Danny Welbeck sealing their fate.

Welbeck, still proving his prowess at 35, scored his eighth goal against United since departing in 2014, representing both Arsenal and Brighton. Over the years, his name has been tied to potential returns to United, where he might have provided more value than some of the costly alternatives the club pursued in the past decade.

This season’s outcome leaves United playing their fewest matches since the First World War, compounded by their absence from European competitions for only the second time in 35 years. These setbacks leave little room for explanation or excuses regarding the team’s performance.

Darren Fletcher, who recently stepped in as caretaker manager following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, bears minimal responsibility for the current crisis, having helmed the team for just two matches.

Darren Fletcher’s Old Trafford bow saw Manchester United fall at the first hurdle in the FA Cup

His former team-mate, Danny Welbeck, scored the winner as Brighton beat United 2-1

Nevertheless, after a draw against Burnley earlier in the week, Fletcher’s latest outing was unlikely to convince United’s leadership that he should be considered for the interim coaching role. Instead, the club’s attention may turn to candidates like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick. Fletcher’s frustration boiled over at the closing whistle, earning him a booking from referee Simon Hooper.

Fletcher made three changes to the team that drew at Turf Moor, bringing in Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Leny Yoro for Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Ayden Heaven. It was Mainoo’s first start since the embarrassment at Grimsby and, incredibly, his first at Old Trafford since May. It will take time to get back up to speed and he lasted just over an hour before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee shortly after being booked.

Fabian Hurzeler made six changes for Brighton’s second 500-mile round trip to Manchester following their draw at the Etihad on Wednesday, but you would never have known it such was the fluency of their performance.

Fletcher has reverted to the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Erik ten Hag, but the Dutchman never quite solved the problem of his porous midfield and it was the same for United here. With Mainoo alongside Manuel Ugarte, United simply didn’t have enough solidity in the middle and Brighton cut through them far too easily.

Hurzeler’s side were particularly dangerous down their left flank, with full back Fredi Kadioglu getting forward to great effect, and it was from that area of the pitch that they went ahead in the 12th minute. Brighton moved play from right to left where Kadioglu fed Welbeck who got away from Mount far too easily.

The Brighton skipper clipped a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Georginio Rutter was completely unmarked to meet it with a firm header. Martinez blocked it on the line but only scuffed his clearance as far as Gruda who buried his shot.

They should have gone further ahead two minutes later when Senne Lammens, so solid since his arrival from Antwerp in the summer, made his first real blunder in the United goal.

Receiving a back-pass from Yoro, Lammens tried to play the ball out from the back but gave it straight to Welbeck and got just enough on his shot to prevent a calamitous goal, Rutter offside as he went for the loose ball.

United’s afternoon started in rough fashion when Bruno Fernandes was smashed in the face by a ball during the warm-up

This was hardly a performance or result to persuade the Man United hierarchy that Fletcher is the person to take them forward

Having had 30 shots in Fletcher’s first game at Turf Moor, United tried to get on the front foot as much as they could and it may have been a different story had Diogo Dalot taken his chance in only the second minute when Matheus Cunha’s pass sent him clear. The Portugal defender’s first touch was a little heavy and invited Jason Steele to race out of his goal and make a fine block.

Dalot wouldn’t be United’s first-choice to be in a goalscoring position, and when he got free in the box again just before half-time a fluffed backheel rather summed up his attacking threat.

In between, United did have their moments. Fernandes had one free kick well saved by Steele and fired another wide with a disguised low effort. Olivier Boscagli threw his body in the way of blockbuster shot by Martinez that might have caused more damage than a bloodied nose, and Cunha was narrowly off target just before half-time.

Fletcher went down the tunnel urging the Stretford End to raise the noise a few decibels, and emerged from it 15 minutes later with a similar message as he returned to the dugout.

The game continued in a similar pattern, though; an open game with Brighton edging it on balance. Rutter diverted a Fernandes corner past his own upright, and Joel Veltman blasted over after a free kick at the other end.

Fletcher waited until the hour mark to make some changes, sending on Zirkzee for Mainoo and Lacey for the ineffective Mount. The mood around Old Trafford soon fell flat, however, as Brighton increased their lead two minutes later.

Patrick Dorgu didn’t get tight enough on Gruda when he got the ball on the right, and Yoro was equally guilty of giving Welbeck time and space when he received a pass from the German, taking one touch and smashing an unstoppable shot past Lammens.

United rallied and pulled a goal back in the 85th minute when Sesko rose above Harry Maguire and three Brighton defenders to guide a header inside the near post from Fernandes’ corner for his third goal of the week. If nothing else, Fletcher deserves credit for reviving the misfiring Slovenia striker.

18-year-old Shea Lacey was sent off late on after a showing of dissent saw him receive a second yellow card

United were, ultimately, dumped out of another cup competition at the fist attempt – thanks to their former forward Danny Welbeck

But there was to be no comeback and Lacey was sent off by referee Hooper after being booked for a foul and again for petulantly slamming the ball into the ground after conceding a free kick.

It was no surprise to hear more boos at full-time as United were dumped out of another cup competition at the first attempt.