Darren Fletcher backs one of Manchester United’s young stars and hits out at the referee after a red card in their FA Cup loss to Brighton.
Manchester United caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has come to the defence of teenager Shea Lacey after the 18-year-old was sent off during the 2–1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Lacey, making his first senior appearance at home, received two yellow cards in quick succession late in the match — one for a late challenge and another for dissent after throwing the ball away.
Darren Fletcher defends Shea Lacey over red card
Darren Fletcher was quick to criticise the officiating, calling the decision harsh and pointing to what he felt were several unpunished fouls against his side throughout the game.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Fletcher defended his young player. Despite the setback, Fletcher praised Lacey’s attitude and backed him to learn from the experience.
“Shea Lacey’s yellow card is ridiculous compared to the fouls that we had against us all game, which ultimately then the lad makes a mistake and is sent off. For me, it is poor refereeing.
“He’s disappointed because he cares and he understands and he knows he will learn from it. There is no doubt about his talent, and it was a steep learning curve today, but we believe in Shea.
“He’s one of our most exciting young prospects, and I’m sure at Old Trafford he will have a chance to make amends for that in the future.”
Darren Fletcher calls for resilience after Manchester United’s FA Cup exit
The defeat leaves Manchester United out of the FA Cup and likely ends any hope of silverware this season.
Darren Fletcher admitted his side were “fragile” after falling behind and urged his players to show greater belief and resilience in the coming weeks.
“We started OK, and then the goal knocked the stuffing out of us,” he said. “When we got back to 2–1, I thought here we go, the crowd was up, the energy was up, but we couldn’t get it over the line.”
With United set to appoint a new interim manager soon, Fletcher said the squad must respond quickly.
“Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football,” he added. “When you don’t have it, you have to dig deep, and then the confidence comes back. It’s over to them — they need to make sure that they have got a lot to play for this season.”
Lacey’s red card will see him suspended for United’s next fixture, but Fletcher’s backing suggests the winger remains firmly part of the club’s future plans.
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