2 MARCH 2025
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2
EMIRATES FA CUP, FIFTH ROUND -
at ST. JAMES' PARK, NEWCASTLE.
Back on the FA Cup trail, the Albion were off to the North East for an Emirates FA Cup, Fifth Round tie against Newcastle United at St. James' Park, "live" in front of the ITV cameras, the match also being broadcast by Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
On a four- match winning run in all competitions, last time out the Albion beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 at home in the Premier on the 25 February and for the visit to Newcastle the Albion made one change to their starting line-up from the Bournemouth game, with Jack Hinshelwood coming in for Diego Gomez in midfield.
In the Seagulls starting line-up was winger Yankuba Minteh, who joined the Albion from Newcastle in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £30 million, without having played a game for the Toon. This was Albion's second visit to St. James' Park this season having won there 1-0 in the Premier on the 19 October 2024, with Danny Welbeck (35m) scoring the winner.
Newcastle had got through to the final of the Carabao League Cup, where they will meet Liverpool at Wembley on the 16 March and in their last outing had lost 0-2 at Liverpool in the Premier on the 26 February and for Albion's visit Head Coach Eddie Howe made six changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Martin Dubravka, Kieran Trippier, Lewis Miley, Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak replacing Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock and Callum Wilson.
First major intervention occurred on three minutes when Captain Adam Webster blocked Alexander Isak's goal-bound effort on his own goal-line. A subsequent Isak shot was easily gathered by Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen. However, on 22 minutes the home side took the lead when Yankuba Minteh clumsily brought down Tino Livramento in the box and Isak converted the resultant penalty-kick with ease. 0-1.
On the half-hour mark Anthony Gordon had his fierce shot saved by Verbruggen and minutes later Isak's goal was disallowed for offside. The Albion equalised on 44 minutes when Minteh got on the end of Joao Pedro's through ball, shook off the attention of defender Kieran Trippier before sending a left-foot shot past Martin Dubravka in the Newcastle goal. 1-1. Minteh had certainly made-up for his penalty give-away.
Half-time 1-1.
First action of the second-half saw Dubravka make a smart save from Pedro's low shot and at the other end Jack Hinshelwood was on hand to block Isak's shot. Substitutes Diego Gomez and then Brajan Gruda went close to putting Seagulls ahead but the Toon's Gordon saw red after striking and pushing Jan Paul Van Hecke to the ground. However parity was restored in the first minute of time added on when Tariq Lamptey received a red card after collecting a second yellow from Referee Anthony Taylor, following a foul on substitute Jacob Murphy.
From the resultant free-kick Fabian Schar thought he had put Newcastle into the next round but his volleyed goal was rightfully ruled out for offside by VAR by the narrowest of margins. On to extra-time.
90 mins: 1-1
In the first-half of extra-time substitute Danny Welbeck set-up Gomez whose goal-bound shot drew an excellent save from keeper Dubravka. Half-time ET: 1-1.
Early in the second-half of extra-time Toon substitute Joe Willock tested Verbruggen but in the 114th minute a fine Albion move involving Pedro, Gruda enabled an excellent through pass by substitute Solly March to Welbeck saw the 34-year old striker net a wonderful clipped right-foot winner for the Seagulls. 2-1.
There was still time for former Albion favourite Dan Burn to flash a shot wide but the Albion hung on for an excellent win.
Final-score ET: 2-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 21 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 17.
Newcastle had 15 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
TO SUM UP - An incident-packed cup-tie settled by a superb winning goal from the evergreen Danny Welbeck. Stand-out for the Seagulls were goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen who made several vital saves and central defenders Jan Paul Van Hecke and Adam Webster . Albion's quarter-final opponents are Nottingham Forest who pitch-up at the Amex sometime during the last weekend in March.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Tariq LAMPTEY, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Adam WEBSTER (Capt), Pervis ESTUPINAN (Mats WIEFFER 80); Carlos BALEBA (Diego GOMEZ 69), Jack HINSHELWOOD; Yankuba MINTEH (Brajan GRUDA 69), Georginio RUTTER (Danny WELBECK 80), Kaoru MITOMA (Solly MARCH 91); Joao PEDRO.
Subs not used: Tom McGILL (G/K), Eiran CASHIN, Yasin AYARI, Simon ADINGRA.
Newcastle United line-up (4-3-3):- Martin DUBRAVKA; Kieran TRIPPIER (Capt) (Matt TARGETT 69), Fabian SCHAR, Dan BURN, Tino LIVRAMENTO; Lewis MILEY (Bruno GUIMARAES 56), Sandro TONALI, JOELINTON (Joe WILLOCK 56), Harvey BARNES (Jacob MURPHY 57), Alexander ISAK (Callum Wilson 86), Anthony GORDON.
Subs not used: Nick POPE (G/K), Emil KRAFTH, Sean LONGSTAFF, William OSULA.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
Fourth Official: Andy Madley.
VAR Official: James Bell.
Red Cards: Albion: 1 - Tariq Lamptey. Newcastle: 1 - Anthony Gordon.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 5 - Tariq Lamptey (2), Adam Webster, Carlos Baleba, Diego Gomez.
Newcastle: 1 - Joelinton.
Possession: Albion - 52%. Newcastle - 48%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Albion).
Attendance: 51566.
NEXT GAME:
8 MARCH 2025 - FULHAM - Home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.