A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( 14 )
7 JANUARY 2023 -
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 ( Akpom - 13 mins)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 5 (Mac Allister2 - 58 mins 80 mins, Gross - 8 mins
Lallana -29 mins, Undav 1 - 88 mins)
EMIRATES FA CUP, THIRD ROUND -
at the RIVERSIDE STADIUM, MIDDLESBROUGH.
As a break from their Premier League programme, the Seagulls travelled to the
North-East to take on Sky Bet Championship side Middlesbrough at the Riverside
Stadium in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup in a match broadcast over the
airwaves by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Albion had produced an excellent performance in beating Everton
4-1 in the Premier at Goodison Park on the 3 January and for the visit to the
Riverside, Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up
from the Everton game, with Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Jan Paul Van Hecke and
Adam Lallana coming in for Robert Sanchez, Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (injured)
and Jeremy Sarmiento.
Middlesbrough had parted company with Manager Chris Wilder soon after the start
of this season and appointed former Manchester United Coach Michael Carrick in
his place. In the Middlesbrough line-up was striker Chuba Akpom, who had a loan
spell with the Albion whilst an Arsenal player.
The Albion made an ideal start to the game as they went ahead on 8 minutes as
Solly March's well-struck shot was parried by Boro goalkeeper Zack Steffen into
the path of the lurking Pascal Gross who gratefully slammed the ball into the
vacant net. 0-1. Five minutes later Boro were level as Chuba Akpom headed
home a cross from Ryan Giles from the left. 1-1. Albion keeper Jason Steele
then made a fine save to deflect a powerfully driven shot from Riley McGree.
Then Seagulls restored their lead on 29 minutes when Kaoru Mitoma's centre
deflected off defender Tommy Smith into the path of Adam Lallana who sent a
header past Steffen for Albion's second. 1-2. Prior to the break Jan Paul Van
Hecke went close to converting Gross's corner and at the other end Steele
saved McGree's long-range effort.
Half-time 1-2.
Alexis MacAllister was introduced as a substitute for Lallana at the start of the
second-half and as Albion showed their attacking prowess Pervis Estupinan's
cross was met by March's header which was saved by Steffen. It was no
surprise when Seagulls increased their lead on 58 minutes as Mac Allister
flicked home Estupinan's cross from the left. 1-3. MacAllister was pulling the
strings for the Albion and he twice went close to adding to his team's lead with
two free-kicks, the first of which just cleared the Boro crossbar and the second
struck the post. In an isolated Boro raid Akpom saw his on-target header saved
by Steele but it was no surprise when the Albion added a fourth on 80 minutes
as Gross's cross was tapped home by MacAllister from close-in. 1-4. The
Seagulls went nap on 88 minutes when March presented substitute Deniz Undav
with the opportunity to score Albion's fifth, when he sent home a low shot to
confirm the Seagull's emphatic victory at the Riverside. 1-5. Albion's reward is
a home draw in the Fourth Round against Liverpool or Wolverhampton
Wanderers at the end of January. Final-score 1-5.
Albion had 19 shots at goal, with 10 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks
conceded - 7.
Middlesbrough had 5 shots at goal, with 5 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
TO SUM UP - An excellent and emphatic win for the Albion against in-form
Middlesbrough. It's refreshing to see the players are responding to the methods
of Coach De Zerbi. Long may it continue.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Tariq Lamptey, Jan Paul Van Hecke,
Levi Colwill (Adam Webster 81), Pervis Estupinan; Moises Caicedo, Pascal
Gross (Capt) (Deniz Undav 81); Solly March, Adam Lallana (Alexis MacAllister 46), Kaoru Mitoma (Julio Enciso 64); Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 64)
Subs not used: Tom McGill (G/K), Joel Veltman Billy Gilmour, Jeremy Sarmiento.
Middlesbrough line-up (4-4-2):- Zack Steffen; Tommy Smith, Dael Fry, Paddy
McNair, Ryan Giles (Marc Bola 81); Marcus Forss (Duncan Watmore 59),
Jonny Howson (Capt), Hayden Hackney (Alex Mowatt 59), Riley McGree
(Isaiah Jones 59); Chuba Akpom, Matt Crooks (Cameron Archer 68).
Subs not used: Liam Roberts (G/K), Matthew Hoppe, Gitau, Rodrigo Muniz.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Moises Caicedo.
Middlesbrough: 1 - Ryan Giles.
Possession: Albion - 68%. Middlesbrough - 32%.
Attendance: 21982.
TRANSFER & CONTRACT NEWS:
6 JANUARY 2023 - AARON CONNOLLY - (22) - Forward - joined HULL
CITY - on loan to end of season;
10 JANUARY 2023 - REDA KHADRA - (21) - Forward - signed contract
extension to June 2024 - then joined BIRMINGHAM CITY - on loan to
end of season;
10 JANUARY 2023 - JASON STEELE - (32) - Goalkeeper - signed new
two-and-a-half year contract - effective until June 2025.
NEXT GAME:
14 JANUARY 2023 - LIVERPOOL - home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
Jack Kaye.
12 January 2023.