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Match preview
Will Brighton & Hove Albion remain on track for a first FA Cup Final appearance since 1983?
So far in this competition, the Seagulls have smashed Middlesbrough 5-1 before a 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
In the latter, Lewis Dunk equalised, diverting home Tariq Lamptey’s shot, before Kaoru Mitoma’s scored a stunning stoppage time winner.
To date, Brighton have only ever featured in one FA Cup Final, beaten in a reply by Manchester United four decades ago, also falling to Man City in the semis in 2019.
This time, with Roberto De Zerbi’s team eighth in the Premier League, they could be dark horses to go all the way.
This’ll actually be the Seagulls’ first fixture for ten days, after their weekend trip to Newcastle was postponed.
Hosts Stoke City were FA Cup runners-up in 2011, but are currently enduring a fifth successive season back in the Championship.
Alex Neil’s side are all the way down in 17th, just nine points clear of the drop zone, following Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Millwall.
In the FA Cup, the Potters have scored three in each of the last two rounds, swatting aside Hartlepool and then Stevenage.
However, having won just three home matches in any competition since 8 November, Stoke’s run is likely to come to an end here.
Brighton are winless in ten meetings with Stoke, dating back to third-tier encounter in 2001, but this sequence is likely to come to an end here.
Stoke City team news
40 year old Phil Jagielka started at centre-back on Saturday, the 793rd senior appearance of his career.
Given his age, he’s unlikely to keep his place, with Connor Taylor coming in alongside Ben Wilmot; Harry Souttar’s sale on deadline day does mean there are limited options.
Axel Tuanzebe, who came in as Souttar’s replacement, is a doubt.
Matija Šarkić will continue in goal, having usurped Jack Bonham as number one earlier this season.
Dwight Gayle will continue to lead the line, even though he’s only scored one goal this season.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Šarkić; Sterling, Wilmot, Taylor, Fox; Pearson, Smallbone, Baker, Brown, Celina; Gayle.
Brighton & Hove Albion team news
Having not been in action at the weekend, with their next game at home to West Ham on Saturday, there’s little reason for Roberto De Zerbi to rotate much.
Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder and Danny Welbeck are all still sidelined.
Jason Steele has started all five cup matches this season, so is likely to come in for Robert Sánchez in goal.
Fit again Evan Ferguson will continue to lead the line, getting the nod over Deniz Undav.
Kaoru Mitoma though will be the main goal threat, seeking to add to his seven so far this season.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Steele; Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Estupiñán; Caicedo, Groß, Mac Allister, March, Mitoma; Ferguson.
Stoke City vs Brighton & Hove Albion: Head to head statistics
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