Darren Fletcher Reveals What He Told Referee After 'Ridiculous' Shea Lacey Red Card

Manchester United caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has revealed what he told referee Simon Hooper after Shea Lacey was sent off during their 2-1 FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton.

Goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck either side of half-time consigned United to an early FA Cup exit.

Benjamin Sesko scored on 85 minutes to give United hope at Old Trafford, but they must now focus solely on Premier League football until the end of the season.

Fletcher, who took over temporary charge on Monday following Ruben Amorim's sacking, brought 18-year-old forward Lacey on in an attempt to swing the game back in United's favour.

But Lacey received two yellow cards in two minutes, resulting in his first professional sending off.

His first yellow card was for a foul, before he was booked again on 89 minutes for furiously throwing the ball down at the pitch after giving away another foul on the touchline.

Fletcher was spotted having an animated exchange with Hooper and his team of officials after full-time, with one assistant referee appearing to gesture towards him to move away.

The former United midfielder was subsequently shown a yellow card of his own by Hooper.

Speaking to TNT Sports reporter Emma Dodds, the Scot revealed the exact details of that discussion.

"One, injury time," he said. "Minimum five minutes, there was stuff going on in that injury time which should have made it more time.

"And then the first Shea Lacey foul was not a yellow card. I've no idea how the Brighton players didn't get yellow cards first half. We probably ended up with more yellow cards.

"Shea Lacey's yellow card is ridiculous compared to the fouls that we had [against us] all game.

"Ultimately then, the lad makes a mistake and he's sent off. For me, it's poor refereeing. I can take the yellow card [given to Fletcher], I'll handle that.

"He [Lacey]'s disappointed, because he cares and he understands. He knows he'll learn from it.

"But there's no doubt about his talent. 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'll have a chance to make amends for that in the future."

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The Scot may already have taken charge of his final game as United caretaker boss, with the club having held talks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick over taking an interim managerial role until the end of the season.

Fletcher, who is United's under-18 head coach, said of his immediate future: "This is what I've been asked to do [the last two matches], I've not had any discussions beyond that. It's just, I did the job this week, and we have to concentrate on the game.

"All discussions on that, I'm sure, will develop over the next few days."