Newcastlevs.Brighton

The Magpies edged a five-goal classic with Birmingham City to make it this far, whereas the Seagulls had to make it past top-flight opposition in the shape of Chelsea in round four.

Match preview

Already guaranteed one trip to Wembley next month, where they will bid to wrestle the EFL Cup trophy out of Liverpool's grasp, Newcastle are potentially just two wins away from another date under the arch as they endeavour to end an FA Cup drought stretching almost 70 years.

Last lifting the prestigious honour aloft in 1955, the Magpies have made their case to be considered genuine contenders for the 2024-25 honour, netting six goals in their opening two clashes with lower-league foes Bromley and most recently Birmingham.

However, a team comprising both fringe players and first-team regulars needed a late Joe Willock strike to see off Blues 3-2 last time out, and Eddie Howe's side have continued to ship goals at an alarming rate, letting in 11 across their last three Premier League contests.

A comprehensive 2-0 loss to Liverpool in midweek means that the hosts trail the top four in the Premier League table by three points, but they have started to rebuild the St James' Park walls, winning against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest following disheartening defeats to Fulham and Bournemouth.

Furthermore, the fifth round of the FA Cup often brings out the best in the Magpies, who have won each of their last nine matches at this stage of the competition, last going out just before the quarter-final stage in the 1992-93 edition to Blackburn Rovers.

Before making rather light work of a tepid Chelsea side in the Premier League, Brighton ended the Blues' dream of FA Cup stardom in the fourth round, where a calamitous own goal from Bart Verbruggen in the opening five minutes proved inconsequential.

Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma spared their number one's blushes to propel the Seagulls into the round of 16 for the third campaign in a row - a club first for the South Coast side - and eliminating Enzo Maresca's men was the catalyst for a sustained upturn in good fortunes.

Indeed, after taking down Chelsea twice in the space of two matchdays, Fabian Hurzeler's men put four past Southampton without reply and also eked out a 2-1 triumph over Champions League-chasing Bournemouth in midweek, where Danny Welbeck had the final say.

Furthermore, Brighton make the long trip north having won four of their last five away matches, while also losing just one of their last eight on rival territory, although that was their 7-0 slaughter at the hands of Nottingham Forest at the beginning of February.

However, Hurzeler memorably masterminded a 1-0 Premier League victory for his side at St James' Park in October, and along the same lines, Brighton have astonishingly won each of their last four FA Cup games against Newcastle without letting in a single goal.

Newcastle United FA Cup form:

W

W

Newcastle United form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

L

Brighton & Hove Albion FA Cup form:

W

W

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

Liverpool fans rejoiced in seeing Alexander Isak's name missing from the Newcastle teamsheet on Wednesday evening, as the Sweden international sat out the defeat at Anfield with a slight groin complaint, and Howe could not guarantee his availability in his pre-game press conference.

However, the Magpies boss did affirm that Joelinton and Sven Botman would do their utmost to recover from knee injuries in time to feature, and their potential returns may just leave the long-term Jamaal Lascelles in the treatment room.

Callum Wilson will no doubt expect to operate up front for the hosts if Isak is not cleared to feature, but Will Osula should not be discounted; the 21-year-old set up two goals in the win over Birmingham and averages a goal or assist every 48 minutes in the FA Cup.

As for Brighton, Hurzeler confirmed on Friday morning that he expects to be working with an identical squad from the win over Bournemouth, meaning no Lewis Dunk (ribs), Joel Veltman (ankle), Igor Julio (knee), James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe) and Jason Steele (shoulder).

The only additional absentee for the Seagulls will be cup-tied goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, but Verbruggen was always going to guard the posts in spite of his blunder in the fourth round.

Hurzeler has the best kind of selection dilemma in the final third for Sunday's game, where all of Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Rutter - who has registered four goals and two assists in his last three FA Cup games - are vying for two central roles.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Miley; Murphy, Wilson, Gordon

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Lamptey, Webster, Van Hecke, Estupinan; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck

We say: Newcastle United 2-2 Brighton & Hove Albion (a.e.t, Newcastle win on penalties)

It would take a brave soul to confidently predict the outcome of this fourth-round battle while Isak's status is still up in the air, but regardless of their talent up top, Newcastle are looking increasingly frail at the back and could be exposed by Brighton's in-form frontmen.

Written by

Ben Knapton

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