Ex-refs chief shares instant reaction to Shea Lacey’s red card vs Brighton after analysing footage
Shea Lacey was shown a second yellow card in the final moments of Manchester United’s FA Cup loss to Brighton on Sunday.
Manchester United lost 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford, with Benjamin Sesko‘s late goal not enough to overturn the deficit.
Brajan Gruda had put the visitors ahead in just the 12th minute, before Danny Welbeck doubled the advantage with a superb strike.
Darren Fletcher took charge of Manchester United against Brighton, after Ruben Amorim was dismissed earlier this week.
Manchester United are expected to appoint an interim manager for the rest of the season, before making a permanent appointment in the summer.
Keith Hackett has no sympathy for Shea Lacey
Lacey, 18, is among Manchester United‘s brightest young talents. The midfielder has been in superb form for the Under-21s, and made his first-team debut against Aston Villa in December.
And the youngster impressed off the bench against Burnley on Wednesday, too, with Fletcher knowing him well at the youth level.
Lacey will not want to look back on a few minutes of madness that marred his FA Cup debut on Sunday, however.
The England youth international had been booked by Simon Hooper in the 87th minute, after a late lunge on Yasin Ayari.
And just minutes later, the clearly fired-up Lacey would give away another free-kick when the linesman flagged.
Instead of accepting the decision, however, the midfielder picked up the ball and threw it to the ground in frustration, with the referee promptly producing a second yellow card and, subsequently, a red.
Lacey appeared emotional as he ran off the pitch, but Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that the decision was correct.
“Simon Hooper is correct in cautioning this rather petulant action which, of course, was a clear act of dissent,” the former PGMOL chief said.
“Hopefully the player will not do it again.”
Lacey creates unwanted history at Manchester United
Lacey was clapped off as he departed the pitch, but the youngster looked as if he wanted to get away from the fans as quickly as possible.
And understandably so, it was a moment of immaturity that should be expected of a young player, but still one he will regret massively.
According to Opta, Lacey has become the first teenager to be sent off for Manchester United in all competitions since Luke Shaw in 2015.
Not a stat that the 18-year-old will like to hear, it can only be assumed. Luckily, he will serve just a one-game ban before he can begin to put it right.