By Jack Cook
Emirates FA Cup: Newport County v Brighton & Hove Albion
Date: Sunday January 10, 2021
Kick Off: 19:45
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
AFTER a dramatic game it was Brighton who heads to the next round of the FA Cup with a penalty shootout win over Newport.
Brighton thought they had won the game in the 90th minute thanks to a lovely goal from Solly March but was then dramatically cancelled out by a goalkeeping error from Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele who missed judge the ball which led to Adam Webster scoring with the last kick of regular time in his own net.
Jason Steele made up for his mistake by saving four penalties in the penalty shootout which helped his team win the shootout and progress to the next round and knocking out a valiant Newport side.
The first chance of the game fell to Newport as a looping through ball troubled Brighton’s captain Lewis Dunk who failed to deal with it and gifted the chance to Padraig Amond to put the host in front, but the ball went just wide of the post.
Brighton took control of the game in the first half with Brighton’s first big attempt was from a corner which was whipped in nicely by Gross and was met with a brilliant header from the captain Dunk but was met with an equally brilliant save from Tom King.
Another dangerous corner from Brighton which saw Zeqiri pull off an ambitious acrobatic effort, but another brilliant save from King denied Zeqiri his first goal for Brighton.
Padraig Amond had another chance gifted to him again as goalkeeper Jason Steele who made a mess out of his clearance who gave the chance to Amond to catch the keeper of the line, but Dunk was there to save the day for Brighton with a clearance of the line.
The start of the second half started evenly with both teams having chances to take the lead, but none troubling the goalkeepers.
The best chance of the second half came in the last 10 minutes as Newport on the counter-attack crossed the ball into the box for substitute Ryan Taylor who did well under pressure from the Brighton who laid off Josh Sheehan who had a snapshot at goal, but Steele did well to keep the ball out of his net.
Heartbreak for Newport as Brighton’s Solly March lovely curled effort from the edge of the box in the 90th minute put the Seagulls ahead and one foot in the next round.
With the last chance of the game, Newport put the ball into the box and the ball was missed judge by Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele saw the ball bounce off Adam Webster and went in for Newport’s last minute equaliser and sees the tie go to extra time.
Brighton’s Lewis Dunk again looking a threat in the Newport box after another good header which looks to hit the top corner of the goal, but Tom King pulled out another fantastic save to keep the game level in extra time.
The premier league outfit Brighton put continuous pressure on the League Two side, but Newport did well defensively, and the game went to penalties.
After seven penalties each, it was Brighton who edged their way into the fourth round of the FA cup after avoiding an upset thanks to penalty shootout hero Jason Steele who made four saves in the shootout which led to Brighton winning 4-3 on penalties.
Star player:
Josh Sheehan (Newport)
Key incidents:
90’ Goal for Solly March (Brighton)
96’ Goal for Adam Webster (Owen Goal) (Newport)
Penalty shootout
Penalty Missed by Josh Sheehan (Newport)
Penalty scored by Pascal Gross (Brighton)
Penalty Missed by Mickey Demetriou (Newport)
Penalty Missed by Neal Maupay (Brighton)
Penalty scored by Joss Labadie (Newport)
Penalty Missed by Yves Bissouma (Brighton)
Penalty scored by Ryan Taylor (Newport)
Penalty scored by Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Penalty Missed by Liam Shephard (Newport)
Penalty Missed by Trossard (Brighton)
Penalty scored by Jamie Proctor (Newport)
Penalty scored by Davy Propper (Brighton)
Penalty Missed by Liam Bennett (Newport)
Penalty scored by Adam Webster (Brighton)
Brighton Win 4-3 on pens
Newport – Tom King, Ryan Haynes, Mickey Demetriou, Matty Dolan (Kevin Ellison 95), David Longe-King, Liam Shephard, Scot Bennett, Josh Sheehan (C), Jamie Devitt (Lewis Collins 63 Jamie Proctor 95), Robbie Willmott (Joss Labadie 39), Padraig Among (Ryan Taylor 63).
Substitutes – Townsend, Howkins, Baker, Labadie, Collins, Ellison, Evans, Proctor, Taylor
Brighton – Steele, White (Joel Veltman 108), Webster, Dunk (C), Bissouma, Maupay, Mac Allister (Propper 63), Gross, Jahanbakhsh (Percy Tau 71), March (Bernardo 94), Zeqiri (Trossard 63).
Substitutes: Percy Tau, Trossard, Propper, Bernardo, Veltman, Sanders, Jenks, Khadra, Sanchez.
