Brighton 2-1 Derby: Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia send hosts into FA Cup quarter-finals

Brighton held off a late fightback from Derby to win 2-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second year in a row.

Despite making eight changes, Brighton controlled the first half and scored through Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia.

Derby eventually responded in the 81st minute when seven-time FA Cup winner Ashley Cole scored his first goal in English football since 2012.

However, Brighton withstood a spell of pressure to reach the last eight.

The win comes as welcome relief for Brighton, who are battling relegation from the Premier League after just one victory in their last 11 matches.

Chris Hughton's team selection suggested Premier League survival was the priority, but Brighton were still much the better side in the first half as Kelle Roos kept out shots from Knockaert and Yves Bissouma.

The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute when Knockaert ran onto Bissouma's low cross and produced a composed finish into the corner.

Derby finally created an opening in first-half injury-time when Martyn Waghorn shot at David Button from a tight angle, but Brighton replied with a second goal before the break.

Bissouma dragged the ball through Tom Huddlestone's legs and then curled a shot against the far post, with Locadia reacting quickest to tap into the net.

Derby brought on Cole and Jack Marriott at half-time but even though they improved, they created little.

In fact, Roos kept Derby in the tie by tipping a shot from Knockaert past the post and then making a sharp save to deny Bernardo from 10 yards out.

Cole gave the visitors hope when he scored his first FA Cup goal in the 81st minute, heading into the net from Dan Burn's clearance.

But Derby could not force extra-time as Harry Wilson sliced a volley wide and Fikayo Tomori missed the target with a bicycle kick from the penalty spot.

Man of the match - Yves Bissouma

The midfielder produced an assured display and set up both goals for Brighton - the second after a lovely bit of skill to turn away from Huddlestone. He was strong in the middle of the pitch and drove forward with the ball.

On this evidence he should be staking a claim for a regular starting spot.

Opta stats

• Brighton have reached the FA Cup quarter-final for the second consecutive season, having only made the final eight in two of their previous 102 campaigns in the competition.
• Derby have won just one of their last 23 FA Cup games against teams from a higher division (D6 L16), beating West Brom in January 2017.
• Brighton are unbeaten in six meetings with Derby in all competitions (W3 D3), after losing the previous five beforehand.
• All six of Derby's FA Cup goals this season have come in the second half of games, with the last four coming in the final 15 minutes.
• Brighton's Anthony Knockaert has scored in three of his last six games versus Derby, including in each of the last two.
• All five of Jurgen Locadia's goals for Brighton in all competitions have come at the Amex Stadium.
• Derby's Ashley Cole - who played in a record eight different post-war FA Cup finals - made his first FA Cup appearance in 1847 days, since playing alongside Frank Lampard for Chelsea against Stoke in January 2014.
• Derby defender Ashley Cole's goal was his first in English football since September 2012 (for Chelsea vs Stoke), and his first ever in the FA Cup (49th appearance).

The managers

Chris Hughton: "I am hoping the momentum of this cup run can push us on in our league form. We haven't been that bad in terms of level of performance but the last three games we picked up one point. The most important thing at the moment is getting the points we need."

Frank Lampard: "In the first half we were slow, with a lack of urgency. To come to a Premier League team and give them time on the ball is the cardinal sin, you are waiting for them to score. After the first 15 minutes we weren't at the races. Whether it's fear or too much respect, whatever it is, it's not enough to come here and get a result."

What's next?

Brighton travel to Leicester in the Premier League on Tuesday, February 26 and then host Huddersfield on Saturday, March 2.

Derby play Millwall in the Championship on Wednesday, live on the red button on Sky Sports, and then face Nottingham Forest, live on Sky Sports, on Monday, February 25.

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