Jose Mourinho's two 'high level' performers see Manchester United past Brighton and into FA Cup semi finals

Perhaps, somewhere in that 12-minute monologue, Jose Mourinho had a point after all.

Only two outfield players emerged from Friday’s rant on ‘football heritage’ with any credit. Those same two players, ”high level” performers Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, were Manchester United’s two goalscorers as they overcame Brighton and Hove Albion to progress to an FA Cup semi-final.

This victory alone will not heal the wounds opened by Tuesday’s Champions League exit, nor will it quieten Mourinho’s growing band of critics. Indeed, there were moments in the second half that were similar to the defeat to Sevilla, as through a combination of complacent defensive and sterile offensive play, United allowed their opponents to grow into the game.

Brighton, however, could not punish them in the same manner as the Andalusians and when Matic added to Lukaku’s opener six minutes from time, United’s place at Wembley next month was assured.

A light snow shower sugar-coated the Old Trafford pitch just as the players walked out and fittingly, the game itself took a while to warm up.

The opening exchanges passed off with little incident and it seemed for a while that the story of the first half would be Alexis Sanchez’s demotion to the bench. After a string of unconvincing displays reached their nadir on Tuesday night, the Chilean, one of five changes, joined Paul Pogba among the substitutes.

Brighton, meanwhile, left out top scorer Glenn Murray, in a decision that betrayed both their low expectations for the evening ahead and their prioritisation of Premier League survival.

Chris Hughton’s side were happy to sit back and soak the slow, ponderous attacks that came their way. United showed more adventure than in the defeat to Sevilla early on, but their forward play still lacked fluency.

That finally changed on the half-hour mark when Anthony Martial’s nimble feet and neat link-up play allowed Juan Mata slip into the box and send a deflected shot wide. Chris Smalling should have scored from the corner that followed, but he could only fire a shot against the outside of the post.

Brighton responded from a corner of their own, with Lewis Dunk’s header drawing a comfortable save out of Sergio Romero, but five minutes later United found their breakthrough.

After a quick exchange with Luke Shaw on the left flank, Matic crossed from deep towards the far post to reach Lukaku who, after beating Dunk to the ball, nodded in from close range.

Still, the goal did little to becalm Mourinho, who spent much of the first half on the edge of his technical area demanding for more urgency from his players. Shaw was sacrificed at the interval in an attempt to send a message that improvement was needed but United began the second half slowly.

In scenes eerily similar to those four days previous, Old Trafford grew increasingly restless as Brighton, having barely threatened during the opening 45 minutes, were allowed to grow into the game. Their best chances fell to recent recruit Jurgen Locadia, who first stung Romero’s palms with a devilish attempt from just outside the box.

The January signing from PSV Eindhoven then should have done better at the far post after peeling away from his marker Antonio Valencia and connecting with Solly March’s deep, searching cross. His header, however, was well wide.

Tension began to build among the home support. Like in the victory over Liverpool last week, a backwards Scott McTominay pass was booed as a slowly-emptying Old Trafford grew frustrated with its side’s inability to kill off their opponents.

Six minutes from time though, they did just that. Ashley Young drifted a free-kick towards the far post and for only the second time of the night, Brighton’s backline let themselves down. Like with the first, they were made to pay for it.

Matic stole a march on Lukaku, nipping in ahead of his team-mate to reach the ball to nod easily past Tim Krul. Two shots on target and two goals from two players Mourinho knew he could trust. Finally, United’s place in the last four was secure.