Newcastle vs Brighton FA Cup Preview

• Newcastle to qualify
• Osula to score or assist

Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion face off in the FA Cup Fifth Round, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Newcastle are slight favourites, but Brighton’s impressive FA Cup record against the Magpies suggests this will be anything but a straightforward contest.

Eddie Howe’s side are looking to replicate their EFL Cup success, where they have already reached the final, but they must first overcome a Brighton team that beat them 1-0 at St. James’ Park earlier this season.

Brighton are in fine form, coming into this game on a four-match winning streak across all competitions. Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma were on target in their FA Cup win over Chelsea, and both players will be key figures as they aim for another deep cup run.

Key Stats

• Newcastle have won their last nine FA Cup Fifth Round ties since a 1-0 loss to Blackburn in 1992-93.
• Brighton have won each of their last four FA Cup matches against Newcastle without conceding a goal.
• Brighton have lost just two of their last 15 meetings with Newcastle in all competitions (D7, W6).
• William Osula averages a goal or assist every 48 minutes in the FA Cup (7 goals, 3 assists in 480 minutes).
• Georginio Rutter has been involved in six goals in his last three FA Cup appearances (4 goals, 2 assists).

Newcastle United: Can They Keep Their Cup Run Going?

Newcastle United are enjoying a strong season in cup competitions, having already reached the EFL Cup final, where they will face Liverpool.

However, they need to turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they have already beaten Birmingham City (3-2) and Bromley (2-0) to reach this stage.

The Magpies come into this game off the back of a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool, a result that kept them sixth in the table, three points off the top four.

They will be eager to bounce back at home, but recent head-to-head history with Brighton is not in their favour.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle – Loss
• Premier League: Newcastle 4-3 Nottingham Forest – Win
• Premier League: Fulham 2-1 Newcastle – Loss
• FA Cup: Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle – Win
• Premier League: Brighton 1-0 Newcastle – Loss

Key Player: William Osula (Striker)

• Averages a goal or assist every 48 minutes in the FA Cup.
• Has scored seven and assisted three in seven FA Cup appearances.
• Could be Newcastle’s secret weapon in attack.

Brighton & Hove Albion: Can They Extend Their Winning Streak?

Brighton have been one of the Premier League’s most consistent sides this season and are on a four-game winning streak heading into this fixture. Their latest triumph, a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, highlighted their ability to grind out results.

Brighton have already beaten Newcastle this season and have an excellent FA Cup record against them, winning all four previous FA Cup meetings without conceding a goal.

Their recent FA Cup wins over Norwich City (4-0) and Chelsea (2-1) have underlined their cup credentials.

Recent Form (Last Five Matches in All Competitions)

• Premier League: Bournemouth 1-2 Brighton – Win
• Premier League: Brighton 4-0 Southampton – Win
• FA Cup: Chelsea 1-2 Brighton – Win
• Premier League: Brighton 3-1 Brentford – Win
• Premier League: Brighton 1-0 Newcastle – Win

Key Player: Georginio Rutter (Forward)

• Has four goals and two assists in his last three FA Cup games.
• Scored twice against Norwich in the third round.
• Provided an assist in the previous meeting with Newcastle.

Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Meetings in All Competitions)

Key Trends

• Brighton have won four of their last five FA Cup meetings with Newcastle.
• Newcastle have won just two of their last 15 games against Brighton in all competitions.
• Brighton kept a clean sheet in all four of their FA Cup wins against Newcastle.

Tactical Insights

Newcastle’s Approach

• Press aggressively and control possession at home.
• Utilise wide players to create chances for Osula and Wilson.
• Defend solidly against Brighton’s creative forwards.

Brighton’s Approach

• Sit deep and look to counter-attack.
• Rely on their midfield dominance to dictate the tempo.
• Take advantage of Newcastle’s defensive weaknesses.

Match Prediction

Newcastle are slight favourites, but Brighton have dominated this fixture in recent years. Given the Seagulls’ solid defensive record in FA Cup meetings with Newcastle, this could be a tight, low-scoring affair.

However, Newcastle’s home advantage and cup pedigree this season could give them the edge, especially with Brighton missing several key players.

Final Score Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Brighton (after extra time)

• Newcastle to edge a tight contest in extra time.
• William Osula to continue his impressive FA Cup record.
• Brighton to score first but ultimately fall short.
• Newcastle to progress to the quarter-finals.

For more info on this game, you may also visit:
Fixtures – Emirates FA Cup – Competitions | The Football Association