FA Cup: Brighton vs Manchester United is Too Close to Call

Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion

The 2023 FA Cup is down to the last four; the two Manchester Clubs, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield United. The Sky Blues’ clash against Championship promotion chasers Sheffield provides the romance of the oldest cup competition in the world; but it’s the other semi-final which is likely to set off the fireworks.  

The latest FA Cup 2023 betting odds rate Manchester United and Brighton as second and third favourites to win the trophy at odds of 4.00 and 5.50, with Manchester City priced at 1.55. But neither the Red Devils nor the Seagulls will believe they are playing for the right-to-be-losing finalists! It’s going to be a cracker no doubt, with United at SBOTOP odds of 1.91 to make it through to the next round while Brighton are right there at 1.95. And there is plenty of motivation for both clubs; the Seagulls are aiming for their first ever major trophy while the Red Devils have just taken a humiliating beating in Seville and are still hoping for a domestic cup double.

Talking Points

Brighton’s best chance

Roberto de Zerbi has done a fantastic job in Brighton since taking over as head coach from Graham Potter; he has led the Seagull’s to seventh in the Premier League table and still in the hunt for a top four place, and his FA Cup 2023 results have been pretty impressive too. His team reached the final thanks to a 5-0 thumping of Grimsby in the quarter final and, before that, they beat former Champions Liverpool, Stoke City and Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.

Brighton have a great chance to reach the final, a feat they achieved in 2019 before they were beaten by Manchester City in the final. But the Seagulls are a much stronger side now and would have a better chance were they to meet the Sky Blues in the final again.

A fairly slim chance bit a better one!  

Can Ten Hag revive his battered team?  

The Red Devils travelled to Seville with an uphill battle to surmount, having surrendered a two-goal lead in the first leg of their Europa League quarter final; and they simply capitulated again, as Sevilla scored almost at will, winning 3-0 on the night and being denied a fourth by VAR. David de Gea and centre back Harry Maguire had a nightmare as Sevilla striker Youssef En Nesyri took advantage of two defensive errors.

Boss Erik Ten Hag has openly admitted he will find it tough to lift his team in time to meet the flying Seagulls; but that’s his job, and he knows, on their day, the Red Devils can be explosive. They were too hot for Nottingham Forest last week, winning 2-0 and also saw off Sean Dyche’s Everton the week before; but the 180 minutes against Sevilla, mid table in La Liga, were bruising.

Team News

Both teams have a fairly busy physio room and there will be some key names missing from either side on Sunday. Brighton beat Chelsea last time out, but at the cost of losing wing back Joel Veltman and striker Evan Ferguson and both have already been ruled out by De Zerbi; and Adam Lallana and Tariq Lamptey are both doubtful with thigh and knee injuries.

De Zerbi has two experienced players to draft into his starting line-up. Former Red Devil Danny Welbeck will slot in to replace Ferguson while Pascal Gross will take his place in defence.

For the Red Devils it would maybe have been a blessing that Maguire is suspended for the semi-final, were it not for the absence of first choice centre backs Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane; so Ten Hag will likely start with a makeshift pairing of Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof.

Up front, Marcus Rashford came through a second half appearance in Seville and he should be fit to take the place of Anthony Martial, and key man Bruno Fernades will slot back into midfield after serving a Europa ban.     

History

Manchester United are 20 times league winners and 12 times FA Cup winners, on the last occasion in 2016, beating Crystal Palace in extra time.   

In contrast, Brighton have never won the top flight league and never won the FA Cup, but they came mighty close on 1983 when they faced the Red Devils at Wembley in the final. At 2-2 and with time running out striker Gordon Smith missed with virtually the last kick of the game, as the BBC commentator said the famous words, ‘and Smith must score.’

He didn’t score; and Manchester United won the replay 4-0!   

Betting Tip

At 2.53 to win in 90 minutes the Red Devils are behind Brighton at 2.31 and the draw is at 3.30. Most of the indicators point to a Seagulls win, but the Red Devils often lift their game at the right time and this could be it. I think this match will go longer than 90 minutes.    

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.