Brighton & Hove Albion bounce back by dumping Chelsea out in FA Cup fourth round

BRIGHTON – Brighton & Hove Albion bounced back from a humbling 7-0 defeat in their previous match with a 2-1 comeback home victory over Chelsea to send the south coast club into the FA Cup fifth round on Feb 8.

Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen gave English Premier League rivals Chelsea a fifth-minute lead when he bundled a cross by Cole Palmer into his own net under no pressure.

The hosts were not behind for long as Georginio Rutter equalised seven minutes later with a glancing header.

Palmer should have restored eight-time FA Cup winners Chelsea's lead before half-time but Brighton were superior after the break and Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma sealed the tie in the 57th minute with a flicked finish over Chelsea custodian Robert Sanchez.

Defeat means Chelsea have not won away in any competition since December and their only realistic chance of silverware in manager Enzo Maresca's first season at the helm is in the Conference League.

Brighton have been inconsistent in the league under their 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler but they provided a great response to their 7-0 drubbing by Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League on Feb 1, especially after such a calamitous start.

“It’s good that everyone rallied around and showed their fighting spirit,” Seagulls fullback Tariq Lamptey said.

Hurzeler added: “We showed that we are together and we turned it around. We bounced back after a tough week and I think the guys showed real character, especially also after a tough start today.

“And that’s not easy to come back like this and to play with this intensity, to play also in possession with that courage, and I think it was well deserved.

“I think it was a great win. It was a great feeling outside to hear the song (Freed From Desire) again, to see the fans supporting the team, to cheer for the team, to enjoy the win. I think it was a win of togetherness, not only we as a team.”

Things looked bad for the hosts when Palmer volleyed a cross towards goal and Verbruggen spilled the ball into his goal.

Rutter spared his blushes soon after though as Joel Veltman's cross from the right evaded two Chelsea defenders and the Frenchman guided his header beyond Sanchez.

There was a hint of controversy about Brighton's winner, with a suspicion of handball in the build-up before Mitoma showed a cool head to lift his finish over Sanchez.

“I think the handball is quite clear. Without VAR (video assistant referee), it’s complicated,” Maresca said. “The second half the only shots they had we conceded a goal from. We had a few chances at 2-1. But you have to take the consequence of the result.”

Elsewhere, Newcastle United came from behind to win 3-2 against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s. Third-tier Birmingham led after 42 seconds through Ethan Laird’s deflected strike.

Joe Willock and Callum Wilson turned the tie in Newcastle’s favour with quickfire goals, but Tomoki Iwata’s blistering strike levelled before half-time for the League One leaders.

Newcastle, though, rounded off a fine week after reaching the League Cup final on Feb 5, as Willock restored their lead on 82 minutes.

Said Newcastle boss Eddie Howe: “It was a tough game for us. Mentally, physically – you could see a few players were on the edge today. We’re delighted to get through.”

Bottom of the English Premier League and seemingly destined for relegation, Southampton got no respite in the FA Cup as Burnley won 1-0 at St Mary’s.

Scott Parker’s team went in front after 77 minutes when Marcus Edwards scored from close range on his debut after signing on loan from Sporting Lisbon.

It is almost 600 minutes since Championship promotion chasers Burnley last conceded a goal, with 10 clean sheets in their last 11 games.

On Feb 9, Wolverhampton Wanderers also advanced to the fifth round as goals by Joao Gomes (34th) and Matheus Cunha (35th) helped them beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park. REUTERS, AFP