Darren Fletcher has hinted he will not be given the Manchester United job for the remainder of the season after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round by Brighton. The former United midfielder has failed to win either of his games since being named interim boss following Ruben Amorim's sacking on Monday, having overseen a 2-2 draw at relegation-threatened Burnley on Wednesday.
Manchester United triggered an extraordinary 111-year low after they were beaten by a Danny Welbeck-inspired Brighton and Hove Albion in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday evening. The ex-Red Devils striker came back to haunt his former paymasters, who were reduced to ten men late on when academy graduate Shea Lacey was sent off at Old Trafford.
Manchester United wonderkid Shea Lacey picked up the first red card of his career in petulant circumstances as the Red Devils suffered more frustration against Brighton in the FA Cup. Old Trafford was left stunned by another abject performance from a star-studded cast, with teenage winger Lacey compounding their misery when he was dismissed in the final minute of the 90.
Ryan Reynolds was once again spotted picking grass from the Racecourse Ground pitch prior to Wrexham claiming a Premier League scalp in the 2025-26 FA Cup. The Red Dragons prevailed on penalties at the end of an epic third-round clash with Nottingham Forest, and one of their Hollywood co-owners made sure that he had a memento to take back to the United States.
Danny Welbeck haunted Manchester United yet again as Brighton became only the third team in 43 years to knock the Red Devils out of the FA Cup in the third round to the tune of a 2-1 win. The former United striker played his part in the Seagulls taking the lead at Old Trafford and then doubled their advantage with a second half piledriver.
Liam Rosenior's tenure as Chelsea boss got off to a brilliant start, as the Blues bested a spirited Charlton side 5-1 at The Valley. Jorrel Hato opened the scoring with a beautifully struck volley just before half time. Toisin Adarabioyo added a second, with Miles Leaburn offering a brief reply, before Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez rounded off the scoring for the Blues.
West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos had to be stretchered from the field after suffering a worrying head injury in the Hammers’ FA Cup third-round clash with Queens Park Rangers. The former Arsenal centre-half formed part of a nasty collision late in the first half, leading to him requiring lengthy treatment on the field and urgent medical attention off it.
Arsenal booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 win over Championship side Portsmouth on Sunday afternoon. Gabriel Martinelli bagged an all-important hat-trick, while Andre Dozzell scored an own goal, as the Gunners survived an early scare to maintain their push for a first piece of silverware since winning the same competition six years ago.
Darren Fletcher, who has worked with JJ Gabriel at U18 level with Manchester United, has explained why the 15-year-old wonderkid is not being fast-tracked into the first-team fold at Old Trafford. The exciting youngster is eligible to feature in an FA Cup third-round clash with Brighton, as that competition uses different rules to the Premier League, but the decision has been made to hold him back.
Jorrel Hato has praised new Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, after the Blues thumped Charlton 5-1 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The young Dutchman opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time as he powered home a bouncing ball on the edge of the Addicks' area with a fierce left-footed strike. Speaking after the game, the left back said he felt Rosenior's style "suits" this Chelsea squad.
Micky van de Ven defended Tottenham and Aston Villa's fracas at the end of their FA Cup third round tie, but sent a blunt warning to his Spurs team-mates that they cannot only show "this passion" when they are losing, having gone into half-time 2-0 down.
Antoine Semenyo left a lasting impression on his new Manchester City teammates with his man of the match performance in the Sky Blues 10-1 win over Exeter City in the third round of the FA Cup. The former Bournemouth man grabbed a goal and an assist, prompting Rico Lewis to say the Ghanaian international made a "seamless transition" into Pep Guardiola's side.
Tottenham Hotspur saw their injury crisis worsen after Brazil international Richarlison limped out of their FA Cup third-round tie with Aston Villa on Saturday evening. The north Londoners are now sweating on the fitness of the 28-year-old striker, who had to be replaced midway through the first half after picking up a suspected hamstring problem.
Marc Guehi could be the beneficiary of an FA rule change on player eligibility in cup competitions. The Crystal Palace captain was part of the Eagles embarrassing 2-1 loss at minnows Macclesfield in defence of their FA Cup crown, but could continue in the competition if he completes a switch to Manchester City or Arsenal in the January transfer window.
Marc Guehi was spotted approaching angry Crystal Palace fans in the aftermath of his side’s historic FA Cup defeat against sixth-tier Macclesfield FC on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles captain came face-to-face with the travelling supporters following a seismic loss which manager Oliver Glasner said he had “no explanation” for after the full-time whistle.
Macclesfield made history on Saturday, as the first non-league club to knock out the reigning FA Cup winners since 1909 thanks to their 2-1 win over Premier League outfit Crystal Palace. A phoenix club established in 2020 after the winding up of Macclesfield Town FC, their achievement is truly remarkable. Here's all you need to know about the Silkmen.
Macclesfield FC captain Paul Dawson dedicated his side’s incredible FA Cup victory over holders Crystal Palace to late team-mate Ethan McLeod, who died in a car crash at the age of just 21 last month. The Silkmen produced one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history as they defeated Oliver Glasner’s Eagles at Moss Rose Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has insisted he will be in charge at the Blues and is content with the board’s involvement in the club. The former Strasbourg coach has worked with the BlueCo hierarchy before in France and his appointment has been viewed cynically as a coach happy to bow down to the whims and wishes of those in the boardroom above him.
Manchester City opened up their FA Cup campaign with a barely believable 10-1 victory over Exeter City in the third round on Saturday. Antoine Semenyo scored and assisted on his debut for the Cityzens, while youngster Max Alleyne also netted his first goal for the club, as Pep Guardiola's side swept aside their League One opponents at the Etihad Stadium.
Wrexham’s Hollywood co-owner Rob Mac has described his side’s performance in their FA Cup third-round victory over Nottingham Forest as ‘incredible’. The Red Dragons produced a sublime showing to knock out their Premier League opposition on penalties, producing the first shock of the round. After the game, McElhenney was unable to hide his delight.
Wayne Rooney was reduced to tears on punditry duty for the BBC as he watched his brother John produce the greatest shock result in FA Cup history. Non-league side Macclesfield FC ran out 2-1 winners over cup holders Crystal Palace to progress to the fourth round and shock the footballing world with a late Yeremy Pino consolation not enough to save the Eagles’ blushes.
Macclesfield FC - the lowest-ranked team left in the FA Cup - recorded one of the greatest shocks in the competition's history as they stunned holders Crystal Palace in a seismic 2-1 victory on Saturday. Goals either side of half-time from Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts ensured the Silkmen, who were newly-reformed in 2020, reached the fourth round at the expense of their Premier League opponents.
Arsenal star Declan Rice has been banned from driving after he was caught speeding twice on the same road in the space of a week. The England midfielder has also been issued with a fine after he was spotted going over the speed limit in his £40,000 Jaguar Land Rover at the start of last year. He did not appear at Crawley Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Sean Dyche has lambasted his Nottingham Forest side after they crashed out of the FA Cup third round at the hands of Championship side Wrexham. The Forest boss was furious following their 4-3 defeat on penalties and slammed those who had played out the initial 3-3 draw in North Wales, suggesting that those who started did not deserve a run out in the Premier League.
"I think he’s going to lift people off their seats," Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada said of Matheus Cunha during a summer interview with United We Stand and The Athletic. "He’s got a bit of a swagger about him that people are going to really like. Dare I say, [Eric] Cantona-esque." Talk about setting sky-high expectations!
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