Fixture postponement finally works in Manchester United’s favour

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The Premier League have announced that Manchester United’s away trip to Brighton has been postponed, the club have confirmed.

This is due to Brighton and Manchester United reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals, which will now be played on the weekend of March 18 and 19.

United’s visit to Brighton was due to be played on this date, and it was shaping up as a very inconvenient one.

Days earlier Manchester United are in Europa League action away at Real Betis. Now instead of facing Brighton away, United have a FA Cup home draw against Fulham.

• READ: Five things we learned as Manchester United win the Carabao Cup

Brighton v Manchester United to be re-arranged

Manchester United are set to face Real Betis in the Europa League last 16 second leg on Thursday March 15.

Back to back away trips would have tested this squad, who would have had to fly back to Manchester, rest, train, and then travel down to Brighton.

Facing Brighton is a tricky game as it is. They won 4-0 at the Amex last season, and won 2-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign.

These two away games against Betis and Brighton would actually have been a real test, logistically tricky and demanding.

It is so much better to return from Spain to a home tie, which United have against Fulham, rather than a long trip across England to Brighton.

Fortune is favouring United in draws this season. The team could easily have been drawn away at Brighton.

Manchester United will have to play the away league game at Brighton eventually, and this re-arrangement is likely to work out poorly for travelling fans.

No date has yet been set for the re-arranged game, but it is most likely it will end up taking place in midweek, unless United somehow end up with a free weekend at some point, which doesn’t seem likely. But at least they won’t have to fly to Spain, back to Manchester, and down to Brighton in the space of four days.

The game at the Amex will be a difficult game regardless, but at least it won’t be scheduled days after a testing knockout trip to Spain.

After re-arranged games hurt United in January with the Palace fixture slotted in between City and Arsenal games, this one seems to have helped us out, even though Fulham will provide a challenging encounter at Old Trafford, it is a slightly more convenient one.