The FA Cup - Fourth Round
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion2BlackpoolBlackpool1

Brighton 2-1 Blackpool: Bissouma stunner helps hosts progress in FA Cup

By Josef RindlBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments49

Yves Bissouma netted a stunning goal as Premier League Brighton edged out League One side Blackpool to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Bissouma's near 30-yard effort found the top corner in the 27th minute before Luke Garbutt's cross was stabbed home by Blackpool's Gary Madine.

Brighton deservedly retook the lead as Alexis Mac Allister's shot deflected in off Steven Alzate after 58 minutes.

The hosts face the winners of Brentford v Leicester in the next round.

The Bees take on in-form Leicester in the fourth round on Sunday at 14:30 GMT.

Visitors Blackpool, who had a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad, made seven changes to the side that beat West Brom on penalties in the last round.

The Seagulls - who had progressed from 13 of their past 15 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division coming into this tie - started the sharper at the Amex Stadium, with centre-backs Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster both going close from corners.

They were deservedly ahead midway through the first period courtesy of Bissouma, before a defensive lapse saw Blackpool's Madine beat his marker and level matters just before the half-time whistle.

Mac Allister had a curling shot well-saved by Tangerines keeper Chris Maxwell in the 55th minute.

But the Welsh stopper was cruelly wrong-footed moments later as Alzate inadvertently netted his first goal for Brighton.

Maxwell denied Mupay and Davy Propper in the closing stages as Brighton reached the fifth round for the third time in the past four seasons.

'I was nearly frustrated when he shot' - reaction

Brighton manager Graham Potter:

"We were getting a bit frustrated with Bissouma because he had a couple of shots before that that were scuffed along the floor.

"And, when he shot, I was nearly close to getting frustrated again and then you see it fly in the top corner and it's hard to argue with that.

"I thought we controlled the game but while it's only by one goal, anything can happen, especially in this competition.

"Credit to Blackpool, they were organised, and it's nice for us to go through."

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley:

"We had a plan for this game but, with some of those players missing, it did create a little bit of a dilemma.

"We decided to go with the plan we had and I thought the players carried that out extremely well.

"If it wasn't for a wonder strike and a deflected shot then they didn't create too many clear opportunities.

"We were always in the game, we did everything we could physically but we just weren't quite good enough to create that opportunity near the end that might have got us into extra-time."

Madine the FA Cup's top scorer - the stats

  • Yves Bissouma has scored four goals in all competitions for Brighton, with all four coming from outside the box.
  • Gary Madine's equaliser for Blackpool was his fourth goal in the FA Cup this season, making him the top scorer in the competition so far this campaign.
  • Brighton have now progressed from 14 of their last 16 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.

Line-ups

Brighton

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 31Walton
  • 4Webster
  • 5Dunk
  • 33Burn
  • 34Veltman
  • 24Pröpper
  • 8Bissouma
  • 17AlzateSubstituted forMarchat 61'minutes
  • 22TauSubstituted forMaupayat 61'minutes
  • 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forTrossardat 61'minutes
  • 29ZeqiriSubstituted forGroßat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 3White
  • 9Maupay
  • 11Trossard
  • 13Groß
  • 15Moder
  • 20March
  • 26Sánchez
  • 41Sanders
  • 67Khadra

Blackpool

Formation 5-3-2

  • 1Maxwell
  • 2Lawrence-Gabriel
  • 21Ekpiteta
  • 4ThornileySubstituted forKaikaiat 77'minutes
  • 3Husband
  • 29Garbutt
  • 17Virtue-ThickSubstituted forLubalaat 77'minutes
  • 5Williams
  • 6Robson
  • 14MadineSubstituted forSarkicat 77'minutes
  • 9YatesSubstituted forSimmsat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Sarkic
  • 10Kaikai
  • 19Simms
  • 27Howe
  • 30Lubala
  • 33Fojticek
  • 36Apter
  • 37Mariette
  • 38Holmes
Referee:
Darren England

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamBlackpool
Possession
Home65%
Away35%
Shots
Home21
Away5
Shots on Target
Home4
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away1
Fouls
Home11
Away4

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Blackpool 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Blackpool 1.

  3. Post update

    Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Ellis Simms (Blackpool).

  5. Post update

    Foul by Dan Burn (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  6. Post update

    Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. Davy Pröpper (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Solly March with a cross.

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Leandro Trossard with a cross.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.

  11. Post update

    Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Pascal Groß tries a through ball, but Dan Burn is caught offside.

  12. Post update

    Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Oliver Sarkic (Blackpool).

  14. Post update

    Foul by Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  15. Post update

    Ellis Simms (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Solly March.

  17. Post update

    Attempt saved. Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Leandro Trossard with a cross.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  19. Post update

    Bez Lubala (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Blackpool. Sullay Kaikai replaces Jordan Thorniley.

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49 comments

  • Comment posted by Duquesne Whistle, at 18:08 23 Jan

    The Seagulls play good football. I'm hoping my team get past Brentford tomorrow to set up a 5th round clash. If we do, both teams will rightly be confident of getting themselves to the quarters.

    Blackpool were a banana skin and worried Brighton for a while but the gulf in class told towards the end. Fair play to BHA and well done to Blackpool for putting up stiff resistance .

  • Comment posted by smackers, at 17:31 23 Jan

    The sort of game where you just need to get the job done. Some key players rested but impressed with the line up nonetheless as it shows intent but also without disrespecting Blackpool.

  • Comment posted by Sambucaman, at 17:04 23 Jan

    I really worry about our lack of penetration and then the finishing when we do break through 21 shots only 4 on target on our own ground tells everything about BHA this seson

    • Reply posted by brum, at 17:20 23 Jan

      brum replied:
      almost comical towards the sambucaman ,like you say a worry

  • Comment posted by Gaz sometimes right, at 20:43 23 Jan

    Brighton fan here. Plucky display from Blackpool whom I thought played well against a strong Brighton team.
    Once again some nice build up play from us but our finishing let us down.

    • Reply posted by Nick Watkins, at 00:23 24 Jan

      Nick Watkins replied:
      21 shots and only 4 on target, that’s terrible

  • Comment posted by paul, at 17:44 23 Jan

    I don't think we got out of second gear...biss goal was brilliant. Lots of wasted chances, still Blackpool were really quite good, UTAlbion

    • Reply posted by Get the miles in, at 17:56 23 Jan

      Get the miles in replied:
      Good to see a player on the forums.
      Don't be too hard on yourself. The hairdressers will be open soon enough.

  • Comment posted by Duncan , at 18:58 23 Jan

    Good for momentum for Brighton, nice football but still need more end product.

  • Comment posted by Shadowmaster773, at 17:18 23 Jan

    Wins a win at the end of the day onwards and upwards bring on Fulham on Wednesday

    • Reply posted by emma royd, at 17:43 23 Jan

      emma royd replied:
      lol, you won't get anything from them

  • Comment posted by GoldstoneGhost, at 19:15 23 Jan

    Same old Brighton; loads of foreplay doesn't always lead to decent penetration. Wish we could be a bit more wham,bam, thank you ma'am....

    • Reply posted by admiralbee, at 19:21 23 Jan

      admiralbee replied:
      Some comments imitate prematurity...

  • Comment posted by Mitten, at 17:26 23 Jan

    ‘UTA’

  • Comment posted by slefeb2, at 16:59 23 Jan

    Job done

  • Comment posted by chas, at 19:38 23 Jan

    .... i,m done with to BBC radio 5 sport .. as a life long radio bbc listener .. something in management has gone badly wrong.. patronising does not begin to describe the guff on that station

  • Comment posted by admiralbee, at 17:37 23 Jan

    These cup runs and flirting with the bottom five do conjure up memories of season's past. Still could be worse, look at Liverpool...

    • Reply posted by Richard of York, at 18:06 23 Jan

      Richard of York replied:
      For those old enough - "Jimmy melia's blue and white army!! " 😀

  • Comment posted by brightonborn, at 18:49 23 Jan

    A win is a win only about 3 players turned up for Brighton.

    • Reply posted by admiralbee, at 18:57 23 Jan

      admiralbee replied:
      3 v 11 and still winning..? I didn't know they were palace...

  • Comment posted by U19403320, at 07:50 24 Jan

    Great manager 👍

  • Comment posted by damian, at 17:21 23 Jan

    Great goal by Blackpool. Brighton deserved to win, but the goal was a fluke.

    • Reply posted by smackers, at 17:28 23 Jan

      smackers replied:
      No, the first goal was decent

  • Comment posted by Nick Watkins, at 00:23 24 Jan

    I’d prefer the team to concentrate on PL survival to be honest

  • Comment posted by Stephem, at 18:30 23 Jan

    Alzate would have had an 8 point fantasy haul for getting in the way of a shot and playing a non threatening pass to Bissouma

    • Reply posted by admiralbee, at 18:49 23 Jan

      admiralbee replied:
      Why, Woy you sound so bitter...

  • Comment posted by Ade Whitaker, at 22:26 23 Jan

    A full strength, Covid free Blackpool side, would have given a much better performance.

  • Comment posted by Nigel, at 18:42 23 Jan

    BHA
    werent that great , we can concentrate on Div 1 now UTMP

  • Comment posted by undercover10, at 17:37 23 Jan

    Unlucky Blackpool

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