FA Cup: Man Utd defeat to Middlesbrough will affect their next fixtures

Man Utd returned to action on Friday in the FA Cup when they went head to head against Middlesbrough.

The game, which happens to be the Red Devils first match after a few days from football, ended in a penalty shootout as they were defeated by the Championship side.

Reacting to the defeat, Manchester United legend Roy Keane believes it will affect the Red Devils’ next fixtures.

Keane, in his statement, revealed he expected Man Uts to defeat the Championship side after putting up a fantastic performance in the first half.

However, the Championship side recorded a surprising win in the FA fourth round, progressing to the fifth round on an 8-7 penalty shoot-out victory.

Jadon Sancho put the Red Devils in the lead, but Matt Crooks would later find an equaliser for the Championship side.

“You have to be critical of Manchester United. The first half, they were fantastic, but they are playing a Championship team at home in the cup,” Keane told ITV.

“Obviously, it’s not good enough. Defeat changes the mood. It changes the mood in the ground as well.

“The fans would have been thinking they would win tonight and, being at home, I fully expected them to beat a Championship team.

“But now, it just adds more and more pressure to the upcoming games.”