Alexis Mac Allister is ticking off some major items on his checklist this season. Win the World Cup? Tick. Do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke? Tick.
In the end, it was the quality of Brighton in the final third that proved to be the difference against the Championship outfit as the Seagulls booked their place in the last eight of the FA Cup for the third time in six years.
This was Lewis Dunk’s 400th appearance for Brighton. Pre-match, Roberto De Zerbi described his skipper as one of the best centre-backs in the league.
Dunk backed up his manager’s praise, threading a lovely delivery into the path of Kaoru Mitoma, who unselfishly squared the ball to Evan Ferguson to finish. The movement was exquisite and the weight on the passes was perfect.
‘Dunk is an incredible player. We are lucky to have him.’ said De Zerbi. ‘I am lucky to have so many players with character and quality,’ the Italian added.
Evan Ferguson’s first-half strike handed Brighton a 1-0 win in the FA Cup on Tuesday evening
The win away from home booked Roberto De Zerbi’s side their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals
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Both managers rolled in the changes with Alex Neil making seven and Axel Tuanzebe making his first start in 13 months, while De Zerbi made five alterations.
His team dominated possession but occasionally lost the ball in dangerous areas against a spirited Stoke side, forcing Jason Steele to deny Tyrese Campbell and Jordan Thompson.
‘We probably did better than a lot of teams that have played them,’ said Neil.
Brighton had chances to double their advantage as the game opened up but Stoke keeper Jack Bonham was equal to the task.
And the Premier League side were nearly made to pay for their wastefulness when Tuanzebe’s header looped agonisingly wide from a Stoke setpiece.
‘Axel’s a top player and his performance was excellent against top opponents,’ Neil added. What a story that could have been.