Brighton & Hove Albion – Newcastle United

We're minutes away from kick-off in today's final FA Cup fixture...

This could be the first real giant killing, with no huge shocks so far

With Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini out for Newcastle, there's certainly at defensive vulnerability, and Brighton are capable of playing good football so could unsettle Newcastle's makeshift back four, particularly if Craig Mackail-Smith can perform

Shola Ameobi is the lone striker for Newcastle, but he's supported by the dangerous Ben Arfa-Gutierrez-Best triumvirate...

Brighton kick-off...

Brighton already looking lively, with Mackail-Smith looking to close down the ball in Newcastle's defence

Early chance for Newcastle: nice through-ball by Gutierrez gives Santon time and space but the full-back's cross - aimed at Ameobi - curls wide and off the pitch. Brighton goalkick

Forster-Caskey's cross, when looking for Mackail-Smith, is blocked bu Perch but it's a decent break. Brighton showing early intent.

Brighton still pressing in the final third, determined not to allow Newcastle time on the ball

Brighton again spreading play, looking for opening's with which to open Newcastle up

They're a club that play nice football since Gus Poyet's arrival.

Brighton's free-kick is hit straight at Newcastle's wall, and Perch clears by hitting the ball long

Perch intervenes again, this time heading away Barnes' cross

Yohan Cabaye's down on the ground and clearly in some pain...

Ben Arfa's attempting to break for Newcastle, who are currently down to 10 men...

Newcastle go close! Good effort from Loen Best!

Deserved a goal, that. Collected the long ball with an outstanding touch before turning and firing just wide

Best heads wide now! Ameobi won the header and directed it towards Best but the Irish striker failed to connect properly and couldn't keep the effort on target

Positive football from both teams, so far, though Poyet will be concerned at how regularly Newcastle are already getting close to scoring

Newcastle now with the ball in midfield...

High challenge by Simpson. Free-kick to Brighton...

Decent there from Brighton! Forster-Caskey creating the crossing opportunity before Santon succeeded in putting him off sufficiently and Newcastle cleared the cross

Newcastle now looking to break...

Before Best sloppily gave the ball away...

Guthrie fires over! Very optimistic. Brezovan was off his line and the midfielder tried to chip him but it was poorly executed and well over the bar. It would have to have been a special effort for him to actually score.

Mike Ashey's in attendance today...

Waste by Newcastle. Nice skill from the clearly confident Best around the Brighton penalty box but despite several Newcastle players getting a touch of the ball, no one was prepared to shoot. Brighton now back in possession...

Newcastle again exchanging possession in midfield. They've plenty of time and space in possession but, whenever Brighton regain the ball, they suddenly come to life and attempt to launch attacks quickly...

Santon, despite providing a useful attacking threat, has proved wasteful with his final ball so far...

Newcastle enjoying another lengthy spell on the ball in midfield...

Brighton doing well to crowd Newcastle on the edge of their penalty area. It seems they chase the ball passionately when it's in either final third, but are happy for Newcastle to have time and space in midfield...

Gutierrez giving the ball away in midfield..

Equally poor from Greer, whose long pass goes straight to Danny Simpson and returns the ball to Newcastle

Decent there from Brighton! The home crowd are obviously boosted by that move as Buckley's low cross tests the Newcastle defence before Krul collects...

Newcastle again given time and space in midfield. Brighton instead opt to crowd Ameobi but leave Newcastle with no other option than the long ball, which so far has proved fruitless...

Newcastle corner...

Williamson heads at Brezovan but it's a routine catch for the keeper. Brighton break...

...but it comes to little as Mackail Smith optimistically fires high and wide. Never going in.

Forster-Caskey plays a stray pass when looking for the through-ball. The move ultimately came to nothing but had some promise for Brighton

Decent opportunity for Newcastle there; Simpson breaks and reaches Brighton's penalty area before failing to shoot. Newcastle corner...

...which Ben Arfa over hits. The Frenchman has a lot of talent but seems incapable of realising his true potential, at least at this stage of his career

Ben Arfa again gives the ball away. Attempts to force a pass too often when it's not on

Brighton give the ball away when the counter was on. Though Newcastle are obviously superior in terms of quality, both sides currently have similar shapes and are very much cancelling each other out

Long ball from Santon, towards Ameobi, fails to reacdh its target.

Brighton now breaking...

...Mackail Smith wins the corner after his shot's deflected wide.

Corner comes to nothing. Newcastle goal-kick...

Newcastle overhit yet another long ball, this time from Simpson. Brighton goal-kick

Just one minute of added time to be played, which is emblematic of the way these times are cancelling each other out.

<b>Half-time: Brighton 0-0 Newcastle</b>

Both teams try to play good football, and there's some quality on display, but few risks are being taken and, thus far, the game's very much a stalemate. Hopefully that'll change in the second half, particular if Newcastle want to avoid a replay.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Sparrow off, Navarro on

Newcastle get the second-half underway...

Santon instantly looks to push forward but overhits his cross. Brighton goalkick...

Newcastle with the ball in midfield again...

Santon again makes progress down the left before again giving the ball away with a poor delivery. Really needs to work on his final ball

Newcastle in possession in midfield again...

Well defended there from El-Abd with Ben-Arfa in a dangerous position..

Best goes close!

Neat turn and through-ball from Ameobi created a shooting opportunity for Best but the 'keeper saves. Newcastle corner

Cabaye hits Ben-Arfa's corner over, though it's worth noting it wasn't a great delivery. Perhaps proving Pardew's alleged belief right, that he considers Ben-Arfa to be more effective from the bench

Decent effort from distance from Cabaye, but Brezovan saves comfortably

Best now giving the ball away with a stray pass...

Simpson's cross cleared by Brighton, but Newcastle recover the ball...

First piece of real action of the second half! Horrible challenge by Simpson on one of Brighton's defenders

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Simpson booked for the challenge

Former Tottenham left-back Mauricio Taricco currently venting his frustrating at the challenge on the touchline

Both tackles in this game receiving bookings. Though it's far from an exciting fixture, it shows the way both of these teams are attempting to play so far

Ben Arfa again found wanting in the final third, his cross going nowhere with Ameobi awaiting the delivery

Brighton free-kick deep inside their own half. Brezovan to take...

Ben Arfa goes down following El-Abd's challenge but the referee ignores him

Even Poyet's getting involved, sarcastically enquiring if Ben-Arfa's alright

Mackail-Smith fails to control for Brighton when a counter attack was possible and the ball rolls out for a throw-in

Tensions rise further, with Cabaye retaliating to El-Abd's challenge and the defender currently on the floor

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Forster-Caskey off, Harley on

Krul clears the danger from Newcastle following good defending from Perch...

Brighton now with the ball in defence, taking their time before plotting the next move...

The game's getting scrappier in midfield now, with more tackles being made and less time and space available than there was in the first-half

Good save from Krul from Mackail-Smith! Better from the striker, too, who turned and shot well before Newcastle's 'keeper tipped the effort wide for a corner. Brighton corner...

Comes to nothing. Krul collects.

Goalkick to Newcastle, despite Brighton appealing for a free-kick for Santon's challenge on Buckley...

Another stray, wishful pass from Ben Arfa. Gifts the ball to Brighton

Some really uninspiring football being played here...

And another poor cross from Ben-Arfa

Birghton break...

<b>And score! Brighton 1-0 Newcastle United!</b>

Buckley broke from inside his own half and made it to Newcastle's penalty area before his cross was turned in by Williamson

Just what the game needed to bring it to life. At long last.

Newcastle corner

...And another Newcastle corner...

Ameobi's header is saved comfortably by Brezovan

Brighton had a great opportunity there! Buckley had the chance to shoot but couldn't decide what to do before giving the ball away - too much time

Brighton corner. Good work by Harley

A cup upset could be on the cards, then (as predicted at the start of this commentary)

Newcastle clear the corner. Tidily defended

Gutierrez passes to Ameobi but the striker fails to control the ball. Brighton back in possession

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Gosling, Taylor and Ferguson on, Guthrie, Santon and Ben Arfa off

Pardew clearly not happy about the prospect of a cup exit

Ben Arfa and Santon, in particular, can have no complaints. They've had plenty of possession but have done little with it

Ferguson's cross collected by Brezovan at the near post. Disappointing for Newcastle that nobody really attempted to reach the cross

Brighton free-kick deep into Newcastle's half. Good chance to cross, but will they instead look to waste time?

The answer's no. Brighton cross and win a corner

...which Krul punches clear

Newcastle now countering throuugh Best

Cabaye shoots but it's blocked! Newcastle appeal for handball but Lee Probert, the referee, ignores the call

Replays show it was a penalty. Bad luck there for Newcastle

Ferguson wins a corner for Newcastle. Late chance for the Premier League side

With four minutes of added time to be played...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mackail-Smith off, Hoskins on

Brighton now keeping possession, intent on running the clock down. Clearly the sensible thing to do.

Gutierrez fouls Barnes. Brighton free-kick in a dangerous position

Though they choose to keep possession and avoid any potential danger...

<b>Full-time: Brighton 1-0 Newcastle</b>

Not a great game but that won't bother Brighton. They're through to the final 16 at Premier League Newcastle's expense