Newcastle United vs. Brighton & Hove Albion: Preview, Predictions, H2H, & Lineups | FA Cup

 

As Newcastle United continue their pursuit of a domestic cup double, they face Brighton & Hove Albion in a highly anticipated FA Cup quarter-final showdown at St James’ Park on Sunday. This fixture promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams vie for a coveted spot in the semi-finals.

Newcastle United’s journey in the FA Cup has been marked by determination and resilience. The Magpies edged out a five-goal thriller against Birmingham City to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Prior to that, they netted six goals in their opening two clashes with lower-league foes Bromley and Birmingham, showcasing their attacking prowess.

Under the guidance of manager Eddie Howe, Newcastle United are on the brink of another Wembley appearance, having already secured a trip to the iconic stadium next month to contest the EFL Cup final against Liverpool. The Magpies are just two wins away from potentially ending a nearly 70-year FA Cup drought, with their last triumph dating back to 1955.

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Despite their success in the FA Cup, Newcastle’s Premier League form has been a mixed bag. They suffered a comprehensive 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in midweek, leaving them three points adrift of the top four. However, they have shown resilience by securing victories against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest following disheartening losses to Fulham and Bournemouth.

In the FA Cup, Newcastle have been formidable, winning each of their last nine matches at this stage of the competition. Their last exit before the quarter-finals came in the 1992-93 edition when Blackburn Rovers knocked them out.

Brighton & Hove Albion have also had a commendable run in the FA Cup, making their way to the quarter-finals by overcoming top-flight opposition. The Seagulls eliminated Chelsea in the fourth round, with a calamitous own goal from Bart Verbruggen in the opening minutes setting the tone. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma secured their progression.

Under the stewardship of head coach Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have experienced an upturn in fortunes. Following their FA Cup victory over Chelsea, they defeated the Blues again in the Premier League, put four past Southampton without reply, and secured a 2-1 triumph over Champions League-chasing Bournemouth in midweek, with Danny Welbeck scoring the decisive goal.

Brighton’s away form has been impressive, winning four of their last five matches on the road and losing just one of their last eight away games. Notably, Hurzeler masterminded a 1-0 Premier League victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park in October, and Brighton have won each of their last four FA Cup games against Newcastle without conceding a single goal.

Newcastle United:

Newcastle’s preparations for this crucial match have been hampered by injuries. Swedish striker Alexander Isak missed the midweek defeat to Liverpool due to a slight groin complaint, and his availability remains uncertain. Manager Eddie Howe is hopeful that Joelinton and Sven Botman will recover from knee injuries in time to feature, but long-term absentee Jamaal Lascelles is unlikely to be available.

If Isak is not cleared to play, Callum Wilson is expected to lead the line for the Magpies, with Will Osula also in contention. Osula has been impressive in the FA Cup, contributing two assists in the win over Birmingham and averaging a goal or assist every 48 minutes in the competition.

Possible Starting Lineup:

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

 

Brighton & Hove Albion:

Brighton will be without several key players due to injuries. Lewis Dunk (ribs), Joel Veltman (ankle), Igor Julio (knee), James Milner (thigh), Ferdi Kadioglu (toe), and Jason Steele (shoulder) are all sidelined. Additionally, cup-tied goalkeeper Carl Rushworth will be unavailable, but Bart Verbruggen is set to guard the posts despite his blunder in the fourth round.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler faces a selection dilemma in the final third, with Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro, and Georginio Rutter – who has registered four goals and two assists in his last three FA Cup games – all vying for two central roles.

Possible Starting Lineup:

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

Predicting the outcome of this FA Cup quarter-final clash is no easy task, especially with Alexander Isak’s status still up in the air. Regardless of their attacking talent, Newcastle’s defensive frailties have been exposed in recent matches, and Brighton’s in-form frontmen could capitalize on this vulnerability.

However, the electric atmosphere at St James’ Park is sure to play a significant role. While a thrilling contest may not be settled in 120 minutes, Eddie Howe’s men should have the edge in a penalty shootout, propelling them into the last eight.

Soccer Baba Predicted Score: Newcastle United 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

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The FA Cup quarter-final between Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion promises to be a captivating encounter. Both teams have demonstrated their quality and determination to reach this stage of the competition. With a place in the semi-finals at stake, fans can expect a closely contested battle filled with drama and excitement.

As Newcastle aim to end their long wait for FA Cup glory and Brighton seek to continue their impressive run, all eyes will be on St James’ Park this Sunday. Will the Magpies secure another Wembley appearance, or will the Seagulls soar to new heights? Only time will tell.