The latest episode of Albion Unlimited from BBC Radio Sussex is available now on BBC Sounds.
Brighton deputy chairman Paul Barber reflects on the club's latest financial figures, while Fulham fan and German football expert Archie Rhind-Tutt discusses Brighton's incoming striker Stefanos Tzimas and Saturday's visit of the London side.
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Scott McCarthy
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesWhen Lewis Dunk was forced off at half-time of Brighton's 2-1 FA Cup win over Chelsea, Brighton looked in a spot of defensive bother with the only centre-back on the bench being Adam Webster.
There were a couple of reasons to potentially panic over Webster coming on. The first was he had played only 159 minutes of competitive football in four months since getting injured in October.
Hardly great preparation for any player facing being thrown in at the deep end against Cole Palmer and co, let alone one such as Webster who, throughout his six seasons at Amex Stadium has always needed four or five matches to shake off the rust after a lay-off.
The second reason to panic was what happened the previous time he faced Chelsea. Webster was all over the shop as Palmer plundered four goals in 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge back in September.
It looked like Father Time was catching up with him. The Premier League was at too high a quality. Obituaries were written.
All of these now need to be cancelled.
Since Webster took over from Dunk, Brighton have won five games out of five, conceding only twice. One was an absolute rocket from Justin Kluivert against Bournemouth. The other was a penalty in the FA Cup at Newcastle on Sunday.
Webster has seamlessly replaced Dunk as both centre-back and captain. Albion look more solid than at any point under Fabian Hurzeler with Webster in the team.
Dunk has been injured twice already this season and was almost instantly restored to the starting XI upon his return. That surely cannot happen this time.
Webster is in arguably the best form of his Brighton career. He is clearly enjoying every moment with that enthusiasm rubbing off on those around him.
And it is absolutely magnificent to watch.
Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is on Chelsea's radar for a potential summer move. (GiveMeSport, external)
Meanwhile, Albion striker Joao Pedro wants to join Liverpool this summer. (Football Insider, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton fan Scott Daly says Fabian Hurzeler has started his reign at Amex Stadium "incredibly" since taking charge in the summer, adding that the Seagulls are "one point better off" in the Premier League this season than at the same point under Roberto de Zerbi in 2023-24.
Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex about Brighton's season so far, Daly said: "In the Premier League, Brighton have only lost six games this season. If you think back to five or six years ago, it is incredible to have only lost six games over halfway through the season.
"There have been quite a few draws where we could have stolen points and we should be in the top four, but Brighton are a very well-managed team at the moment. The club is very well run from the top to the bottom.
"Hurzeler has started incredibly. He has had an impact straightaway. Yes there was a little blip halfway through this season, but we are obviously on the rise again.
"If you are going to compare him with other managers, then I think that's silly. If you did want to compare him then I'm pretty sure that at this point in Roberto de Zerbi's last full season, we are one point better off than De Zerbi was.
"Being a young manager, some of your players are going to be a little bit older than you, but you are a manager who can gel with the team a little bit more.
"He can sympathise with them and he knows what's going on at that age. He can be more down to earth with them. Rather than being that father figure, he can be that brother figure that has a bit of banter with them and encourages them to do better."
We asked for your views on the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Newcastle and Brighton.
Here are some of your comments:
Newcastle fans
David: Never a red card. The defender had a hold of Anthony Gordon's shirt and he merely over-exuberantly shoved him off - pathetic refereeing. The same referee had let off a definite second yellow card for Carlos Baleba just 15 minutes before. Newcastle deserved to progress, despite not being at their best. Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak were a class above. Brighton were very fortunate but hung in there and rode their luck.
Rich: The wheels came flying off the bus. We were unlucky with two offside goals but ultimately we lacked accuracy of passing, imagination and skill in nearly every position. A two-week transformation is required if we are to stand any chance in the Carabao Cup final.
Simon: Another home defeat. It is becoming a frustration that every season seems to go in the same way. I don't know what I watched but it was amateurish and a calamity. Joelinton was just infuriating and he needs to rein his petulance in a little. Playing Isak was a mistake and I hope he wasn't injured. Gordon is out of the Carabao Cup final, which we will most certainly lose if we turn up defeated before kick-off. Eddie Howe has got a miracle to perform.
Chris: Some of our players aren't good enough for the Championship, never mind the Premier League. Do their brains switch off when the game starts? Do they listen to the manager? It looks like me and my son will never see Newcastle United win anything.
Brighton fans
Brian: What a fantastic end-to-end game, settled by a brilliant finish from Danny Welbeck. Brighton to win the FA Cup? Why not.
Ben: We played very well in attack and decently in defence. There were some silly fouls coming in, which shouldn't have done, but it was still a very good performance. Nice to see Solly March back on the pitch and getting the assist. What a player Danny is to get the final goal - what a legend.
Sergio: Welbeck was amazing but March also deserves credit for finding that deadly pass and putting in a shift defensively. They were both substitutes too! Fabian Hurzeler made some great calls in this game.
Ian: A good performance from both teams, only spoilt by an over-officious referee. Brighton had the edge throughout and deserved the win. A great goal from Welbeck for the winner.
Brighton are among the many clubs interested in signing Romania right-back Andrei Ratiu, 26, from Rayo Vallecano. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column
The draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals has been made. Here are the four ties in the order they were drawn.
Games will be played over the final weekend of March.
Fulham v Crystal Palace
Preston v Aston Villa
Bournemouth v Manchester City
Brighton v Nottingham Forest/Ipswich
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side sealed their FA Cup quarter-final spot: "It was a very emotional game, lots of ups and downs. The key was that we stayed together, stayed calm and tried to find solutions.
"They had a big chance, hitting the post, but then I thought we were controlling the game. The penalty was out of nowhere. We played with a lot of courage. We had some small chances and then after we conceded, we showed a brilliant reaction.
"We focused on our solutions and staying clam. In the second half, we were very dominant. We suffered a little bit when we received the red card but, overall, it was a great performance."
On Danny Welbeck and Solly March's performances: "Two special players. It is very helpful to have them in the team. They are great characters, they are hard workers, they have a lot of experience. It is important to have them in the squad."
On winning five games in a row: "We can only win something if we stay together, and that's what we must focus on. In football, there is not a lot of momentum but we have to understand why it's like this in the moment.
"It is important to stay grounded and keep doing the basic things."
On the possibility of reaching Wembley: "The fans can dream and we can work."
Brighton fans, what did you make of the performance? Let us know here
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton's match-winner Danny Welbeck has been speaking to ITV after the game: "It is great to get the winning goal. It was a solid team performance. There was a lot going on in the game, lots of ups and downs, but we stuck with it. I'm so proud of the lads.
"Newcastle can always put you under pressure. They are very dangerous but we stuck to our guns and we put in a great shift.
"I'm feeling very good, feeling fit and feeling strong - thanks to my mum and dad for giving me good genes."
On Brighton's chances of winning the FA Cup: "It is going to be really tough."
On Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler: "I think he knows that whenever I'm on the bench, I'm going to be analysing and making sure I can have an impact. I tried to do my best and thankfully I got the winning goal.
"We have got to push on. There's a lot more to come from us as a team. It is exciting times and we are looking forward to finishing strong."
Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton and Newcastle are both teams for whom winning the FA Cup would mean the world to their fans.
Albion, eighth in the Premier League, are clearly the best current team in England to have never won a major trophy.
Fabian Hurzeler's side are now two wins from reaching their first FA Cup final since 1983, the year they famously lost to Manchester United in a replay.
They were not at their best here and could have been more than a goal behind before Gambian Minteh levelled.
Minteh – who had brought down Tino Livramento for Newcastle's penalty opener - did not celebrate his goal on his first return to St James' Park, despite never playing a game for Eddie Howe's side before his departure last summer.
He joined the Magpies in the summer of 2023, but joined Feyenoord on loan on the same day. On returning, Minteh was sold for £30m to Brighton on 1 July.
Brighton had several chances to score – and when Gordon was sent off it looked as if they had the edge. But just before the end of normal time, Lamptey clattered into Murphy and followed the England forward down the tunnel.
When Schar volleyed in from the resulting Bruno Guimaraes' free-kick, the Seagulls looked to be out.
But semi-automated offside technology showed the Newcastle defender was offside and Brighton had a reprieve – which they took full advantage of.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton have won five consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time ever as a top-flight club.
Newcastle United have been eliminated from each of their last five FA Cup ties against Brighton.
Brighton have beaten Newcastle twice at St. James' Park this season, after winning 1-0 in Premier League. They are just the fourth team to win twice away to the Magpies in the same campaign in the Premier League era, after Manchester City in 2013-14, Hull City in 2008-09 and Liverpool in 1997-98.
Danny Welbeck scored his eighth goal of the season across all competitions, his best scoring season since 2017-18 for Arsenal (10).
Were you at St. James' Park or following the game from elsewhere?
Newcastle fans - let us know your thoughts here
Brighton fans - tell us what you made of the display here
Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies
Two matches make up Sunday's FA Cup action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.
Newcastle United v Brighton (13:45) - BBC Radio 5 Live
Manchester United v Fulham (16:30)
All kick-off times GMT
Follow all of the action and reaction here
Alexander Isak missed Newcastle's defeat at Anfield with a groin injury so he has to be a doubt for this tie too, and his absence is a massive blow for Eddie Howe's side.
Brighton have hit a bit of form since losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest at the start of February, and have won four in a row in the Premier League and FA Cup.
The Seagulls also won at St James' Park earlier in the season, when Danny Welbeck got the winner. I remember that one because I got that prediction wrong.
People are talking about Newcastle being distracted by their upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool [on 16 March] but could they actually be in line for a domestic cup double this season?
I am banking on them keeping that possibility alive here. They obviously could really do with having Isak back but, even if he is not fit, then surely Brighton cannot win there twice this season... can they?
Sutton's prediction: 3-2 after extra time
Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe road to Wembley continues this weekend, as teams battle it out to book their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
There is still lots of Premier League interest in the competition, with 11 top-flight teams all dreaming of a trip to Wembley. Aston Villa are already in the hat for the last eight after victory over Cardiff City on Friday.
The draw will take place on BBC One after Sunday's tie between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 16:30 GMT and features Danny Murphy, Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney in the studio with host Gary Lineker.
If you're wondering how to follow the remaining fifth-round ties, find all the information you need here.
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier, we asked how well you remembered Brighton's opening Premier League game of the season.
The match against Everton ended in a 3-0 win, with Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra scoring for the Seagulls.
Image source, Getty ImagesBrighton recorded a profit after taxation of £42.9m in the 2023-24 season with stellar player trading bolstering their financial performance.
The Seagulls made a profit of over £110m on player dealing, helped in no small part by the sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea for a British record fee thought to be around £115m.
For the 2023-24 season, the club achieved turnover of £222.4m, excluding income associated with the New Monks Farm development. The figure represents the highest turnover in the club's history.
"By way of contrast our turnover in 2016-17, our last in the Championship, was £29.2m – an incredible 762% increase in seven years," the club wrote in a statement accompanying their results., external
Chairman Tony Bloom said: "The accounts show another healthy profit for the period. We've stayed competitive on the field while also making some significant investments in terms of transfer dealings ahead of that June deadline.
"The hard work, expertise and professionalism of our board of directors, executive team, and entire staff continues to provide the platform to make this all possible. I remain incredibly proud of our club and all who work here, and I would like to thank all our staff for their ongoing efforts."
Image source, Getty ImagesNewcastle have won just two of their past 15 meetings with Brighton in all competitions. They've already lost 1-0 against them at St James' Park this term.
Brighton have won each of their past four FA Cup games against Newcastle without conceding a single goal. This is their meeting in the competition since a 2-0 home win in the 2012-13 third round.
