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