19th March, Brighton respectful but in command against team from 2nd Division
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( 22 )
Featuring the game with Grimsby Town ( 19/3 ),
19 MARCH 2023
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 5 (Deniz Undav 1, Evan Ferguson 2,
Solly Marsh 1, Kaoru Mitoma 1
GRIMSBY TOWN 0
- EMIRATES FA CUP, QUARTER-FINAL -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
Albion continued their Emirates FA Cup campaign by welcoming Sky Bet League Two side Grimsby Town to the Amex for a Quarter-Final tie, "live" in front of the BBC1 cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio 5 Live, Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Albion had beaten Crystal Palace 1-0 at home on the 15 March and for the visit of Grimsby, Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made four changes to his starting line-up from the Palace game, with Robert Sanchez, Adam Webster, Deniz Undav and Evan Ferguson coming in for Jason Steele, Joel Veltman, Levi Colwill and Danny Welbeck.
In the previous round (the 5th) League 2 side Grimsby had performed a giant-killing act in winning 2-1 at Premier League team Southampton and Manager Paul Hurst, his team and thousands of supporters headed to the South Coast looking to pull-off a second shock FA Cup result.
Early on, Albion showed their Premier credentials as Evan Ferguson got clear on the left and Grimsby keeper Max Crocombe made a fine save to deflect the young Irishman's shot around the post. Albion took the lead on six minutes when Crocombe failed to hold on to Moises Caicedo's well-struck shot and there was Deniz Undav to slot the ball home for Albion's opener. 1-0.
The Seagulls went on to dominate the first-half and a number of opportunities fell to Undav, Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Caicedo and Pascal Gross, who all failed to avail themselves of the chances which came their way. Unsurprisingly, it had been all Albion first-half but the Mariners had defended resolutely.
Half-time 1-0.
The first-half pattern of play continued from the start of the second-half and on 48 minutes Solly March's cross-come-shot cannoned back off the post but Undav blasted the ball over from close-range. Three minutes later Albion were two-up as Ferguson took Alexis Mac Allister's pass in his stride before firing home a right-foot shot past Crocombe from twelve-yards out. 2-0.
For a change there was some action in the Brighton box when keeper Robert Sanchez made a good save in turning aside a shot from substitute John McAtee.
Next, Adam Webster saw his shot from March's assist strike the post but on 70 minutes Albion's third and game clincher was scored as Undav passed to Ferguson whose low shot found its way into the bottom corner of the net. 3-0. On 82 minutes Seagulls scored their fourth when Webster's
diagonal pass found the on-running March who headed past Crocombe from six-yards out. It was March's eighth goal of the season. 4-0. Keeper Sanchez then made a fine reflex save to turn aside a shot from McAtee and on 90 minutes Mitoma's shot took a deflection before ending up in the bottom corner of the Grimsby net. 5-0. An excellent day's work by the Seagulls and another trip to Wembley for the semi-final against Manchester United on the 22 April. Final-score 5-0.
Albion had 22 shots at goal, with 10 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 4.
Grimsby had 4 shots at goal, with 2 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 4.
SUMMARY - A good professional job carried out by the Seagulls. The Mariners were plucky opponents but in the end Albion's class and poise shone through. Albion's reward, a semi-final meeting with Manchester United at Wembley on the 22 April.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez; Pascal Gross, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk(Capt) (Jan Paul Van Hecke 78), Pervis Estupinan (Levi Colwill 46); Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister (Yasin Ayari 78); Solly March, Deniz Undav (Jeremy Sarmiento 71), Kaoru Mitoma ; Evan Ferguson (Danny Welbeck 72).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Joel Veltman, Facundo Buonanotte, Julio Enciso.
Grimsby Town line-up (5-4-1):- Max Crocombe; Michee Efete, Andy Smith, Luke Waterfall. Niall Maher, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon; Harry Clifton (Bryn Morris 71), Kieran Green (John McAtee 46), Gavan Holohan (Evan Khouri 84), Otis Khan (Ryan Taylor 71); Danilo Orsi (Alex Hunt 46). Subs not used: Ollie Battersby (G/K), Shaun Pearson, Josh Emmanuel, Danny Amos.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Queensland, Australia).
Possession: Albion - 73%. Grimsby Town - 27%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Evan Ferguson (Albion).
Attendance: 29415.