Brighton & Hove Albion

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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On a third round weekend featuring hardly any upsets, low crowds at a number of ties, and with the scandalous lack of replays still a talking point, some have proclaimed the magic of the FA Cup dead.

Try telling that to Brighton fans, players, management - and in particular Solly March. The world's greatest cup competition remains just that after this weekend to those with Seagulls connections.

Over 2,500 Albion supporters made the journey to Norwich on a day when rail replacement buses across Suffolk and Norfolk made getting there difficult.

They were rewarded by Fabian Hurzeler playing the strongest possible XI available to him. The youngest permanent manager in Premier League history he might be, but Hurzeler showed the sort of respect to the FA Cup which many of his older contemporaries should learn from.

The message from Hurzeler was clear - Brighton want to go far in this competition. The result of taking the game seriously was Georginio Rutter playing himself back into form with a brace and Julio Enciso ending a 20-month wait for an Albion goal. Both good FA Cup storylines in their own right for Brighton.

But the real magic came from March. Hurzeler introduced the popular homegrown winger from the bench on 71 minutes. It was just his second substitute appearance after 14 months out caused by the second ACL injury of his career, requiring two knee surgeries to fix.

There had been genuine fears March might not play again. Yet here he was, scoring an exquisite curling effort from outside the box with his first touch only three minutes after coming on. It was the sort of fairy tale moment the FA Cup specialises in.

Hurzeler said afterwards the goal and the celebrations which followed gave him goosebumps. Imagine how Herr Hurzeler will feel if March is the man bagging the winner at Wembley on 17th May.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game at Ipswich Town (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler has confirmed defender Igor Julio will be out for the rest of the season after surgery on his hamstring but Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster and Jan Paul van Hecke are available.

• Georginio Rutter and Yankubu Minteh picked up "small" problems during the FA Cup win at Norwich City and are doubtful.

• On Joao Pedro's fitness: "We will have to see today. He's training with the team and then we can decide if we'll take the risk to play him. What's most important is how the player feels. We won't do any stupid things. He hasn't been able to get into his rhythm but I spoke to him yesterday for a long time and he's in a comfortable place. Of course he would want to be on the pitch for every game, but sometimes your body doesn't want the same thing."

• The Brighton boss believes it is "very important" for Evan Ferguson to get consistent game time after his injury problems but, while the striker is "back on the pitch", Hurzeler thinks it is "too early" for him to return to action.

• He did not rule out a loan move for Ferguson in this transfer window, adding: "The decision should be is what is best for the player and for the club."

• He said it "will be a challenge" against Ipswich because they are a team that can "play out from the back" but also "defend really compact in a 5-4-1 low block".

• On Ipswich's top scorer Liam Delap: "I heard that Delap was a special talent when he played at my former club [Manchester City]. He's the whole package, and has had impressive performances for someone so young. He plays like an experienced striker and is so fast and athletic with a shot. He's a big, big weapon."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Ipswich Town v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 19:30 GMT on Thursday

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's FA Cup game between Norwich City and Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: Terrific second-half performance after a mixed first half. Yankuba Minteh and Carlos Baleba looked powerful and poised on the ball and the early signs are that both have the potential to do great things in the game. Solly March's rocket was the icing on the cake and indicative of his hunger to rediscover the superb form he was showing before another extended period on the sidelines. I really believe that with a bit of fortune, this is Brighton's best chance in years to lift the trophy.

John: A very welcome result considering how our league performances have been recently.

Nick: Good to finally get back to winning ways! After a scary first 20 minutes, we grew into the game and Minteh looked menacing throughout. It may just be me, but has Kaoru Mitoma lost his spark? Hopefully not. A good win capped off by a great Solly March goal!

Chris: What could have been a difficult game turned into the perfect afternoon. A win, a clean sheet, Georginio Rutter back among the goals and a first of the season for Julio Enciso. However none of that can beat the sight of Solly March scoring after such a long time out injured - the reaction of the players and the fans tells you how much that meant to us all. Oh and shoutout to Shane Duffy, forever a Brighton legend.

Prof: Oh the joys of winning again. Superb goals from Rutter and Enciso, with the cherry on the cake being Solly's goal. Norwich are a decent team so to have the chant "we want our ball back" when they were in possession added to the fun day out.

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Solly March spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after FA Cup victory against Norwich City: "It was a nice afternoon - to score to top off a win. Hopefully it will be more of the same to come.

"The [recent] performances haven't been bad at all - the draws have been tough to turn into wins. It's tough to keep clean sheets. We've scored four goals so hopefully it can set us on a path"

"It's more minutes in the legs. I'm probably a while off starting, but I want to contribute where I can. I feel good and hopefully I can build it up over the next weeks and months."

Striker Georginio Rutter added: "I would say [it was a perfect game]. The team showed good character and we took the game seriously.

"I scored so I'm happy, Solly scored so everyone is happy, and Ruairi [McConville] made his first appearance for Brighton so everyone is happy. A perfect day.

"Solly is important for everyone. I didn't know him before, but when he returned to training everyone was happy. He has worked hard to come back."

Brighton's Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, 20, has been linked with a loan move to West Ham. (TBR Football, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the weekend of 8 February.

• Manchester United v Leicester

• Brighton v Chelsea

• Exeter v Nottingham Forest

• Coventry v Ipswich

• Blackburn v Wolves

• Mansfield/Wigan v Fulham

• Birmingham v Newcastle

• Plymouth v Liverpool

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Aston Villa v Tottenham

• Southampton v Burnley

• Leyton Orient/Derby v Manchester City

• Doncaster v Crystal Palace

See the full draw

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Fabian Hurzeler spoke to BBC Radio Sussex after Brighton's victory against Norwich: "I think we had some problems at the start, but afterwards we created a lot of chances and scored scored some nice goals. We defended quite well; Norwich only had one chance in the whole game so I am very happy with the performance without the ball.

On Solly March: "I had some goosebumps when he scored the goal and when the supporters cheered his name. It was something special.

Tell us your thoughts on Brighton's performance here

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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That was exactly what Fabian Huzeler will have wanted from his Brighton side as they eased their way beyond Championship side Norwich at Carrow Road.

This game could have been a banana skin for the Premier League outfit, especially having not won in their last eight games, but it was anything but.

After soaking up some early pressure from the play-off chasers, Brighton stepped on the gas and Georginio Rutter struck in with a fine header in the 37th minute before powering home his second with the last kick of the half.

With a 2-0 lead, Brighton were able to relax in the second period they flexed their Premier League muscles even more and put the gloss on the scoreline.

Hurzeler made six changes to his starting XI but showcased the strength in depth at his disposal as he was able to call on the likes of Rutter, Mitomo and Julio Enciso.

The Paraguayan repaid the faith his manager paid in him by scoring a beautiful third goal before Solly March netted for the first time since recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Brighton are not where they want to be in the league currently as they sit in 10th but a performance and result like this is sure to bring them much-needed confidence.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Brighton's performance

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

The FA Cup third round continues on Saturday, with several Premier League sides in action:

• Bournemouth v West Bromwich Albion

• Chelsea v Morecambe

• Norwich v Brighton

• Nottingham Forest v Luton

• Brentford v Plymouth Argyle - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester City v Salford City (17:45) - watch on BBC One, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app

All times GMT and kick-off at 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton has made his predictions for all 32 FA Cup third round games and given his verdict on who will make it into round four.

For this week's matches he is up against actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who is a Liverpool fan.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

What a win for Johannes Hoff Thorup's Norwich at the weekend. It harked back to the Daniel Farke era, with us scoring two stoppage time goals to beat Frank Lampard's Coventry.

The guy who got them both, Amankwah Forson, has had a difficult start to his Norwich career, but he took them brilliantly.

The issue my old club have is that Ashley Barnes has gone back to Burnley, leaving Josh Sargent as their only recognised striker.

Sargent has been injured this season and has only played 12 Championship games, which is less than half, so it is a gamble to rely on him to stay fit.

I'd love to say Norwich will win this, but I actually think Brighton will go through.

They could do with a victory too because, although they performed really well against Arsenal, they have not won for eight games.

It pains me to say this, but I am going with the Seagulls to take out the Canaries.

Billy's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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The FA Cup third round is well under way, with Premier League sides Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa the clubs already booking their places in the fourth-round draw with wins on Thursday and Friday.

But for other sides hoping for a healthy cup run this season, when will the draw take place?

The draw will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer following the conclusion of the Arsenal v Manchester United tie, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

It will include 32 teams - with all third-round matches this weekend settled on the day - and the resulting ties will be played over the weekend commencing Saturday, 8 February.

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Norwich City's top scorer Borja Sainz will be suspended for Saturday's FA Cup tie against Brighton.

The Championship's leading scorer will miss a total of six games after admitting to spitting at Sunderland's Chris Mepham in December. He has also been fined £12,000 by the Football Association.

Sainz - who has netted 16 goals for the Canaries this season, but has failed to add to that tally since November - said he takes "full responsibility" and "deeply regrets" what he did.

Read more