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FA Cup | Fifth Round
Feb 17, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Hull logo

1-1

Ulloa (30')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Sagbo (85')

Live Commentary: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Hull City - as it happened

Relive a dramatic FA Cup fifth-round tie between Brighton & Hove Albion and Hull as the Tigers scored an 85th-minute equaliser to force a replay.
2

Hull City scored a late equaliser to force a replay in their FA Cup fifth round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.

The Tigers hit the woodwork twice in the first half through Yannick Sagbo and Curtis Davies, but it was Brighton who went into the break ahead courtesy of a fine Leonardo Ulloa goal.

Sagbo kept his side in the cup with just five minutes remaining, however, while it took a 94th-minute goalline clearance from Jake Forster-Caskey to deny the visitors a dramatic late win.

You can read how an absorbing cup tie unfolded with Sports Mole's live play-by-play coverage of the match below.


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Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's FA Cup fifth round tie between Brighton & Hove Albion and Hull City at the Amex Stadium. A home quarter-final tie against Sunderland awaits the winners, so there is plenty to play for for both sides.

We'll start with a look at our hosts, who are currently 14 places below Hull in the league ladder and chasing the playoffs in the Championship. They are just one spot and four points behind sixth-placed Reading with a game in hand over the Royals, so the Seagulls are still very much in the race to reach the Premier League next season.

They come into tonight's match in decent form having won back-to-back matches against Doncaster and Leeds respectively. Their home form is particularly impressive, with no defeats in their last seven games at the Amex and four consecutive victories without conceding a goal. Indeed, they have not let a goal in in front of their own fans since January 1. They have only lost at home four times all season in all competitions, and will fancy their chances of getting at least a draw from this game tonight.

It is fair to say that they haven't been the most exciting team to watch from a neutral's point of view, however. Their league position is very much based on a strong defence rather than a prolific attack, with their 32 goals scored in 30 games the lowest total in the top 15, while only Blackpool have scored fewer outside the bottom five.

However, such poor attacking stats aren't so costly when you look at how good their defence has been this season. The Seagulls have conceded just 25 goals in the current campaign, which is a record that only high-flying Queens Park Rangers (24) can beat.

They have beaten both Reading and Port Vale to reach the fifth round of the competition, and another victory in what should be their toughest test yet would see them come up against former manager Gus Poyet in the quarter-finals. They haven't reached the last eight of this competition since 1986, which incidentally was the second and last season in which they met Hull in the FA Cup. They also played each other in 1985, with Brighton emerging victorious on both occasions.

Hull, meanwhile, could be forgiven for having one eye on an enthralling relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League table. The Tigers have had a good first season back in the top flight, and if you would have offered them 13th place at the start of the season then Steve Bruce would have bitten your hand off. However, they are still just three points clear of the relegation zone and are far from safe.

Goals have been a bit of a problem for Hull this season, with only three teams scoring fewer than them in the league. However, similar to Brighton, their defence has been impressive, and Steve Bruce's side have the best defensive record outside the top eight, while they have also conceded fewer goals than the likes of high-flyers Liverpool and Tottenham.

Away from home things get a little more worrying for the Tigers, however, as they have only won twice on their travels in the league all season. The second of those came against Sunderland last Saturday, a result which ended a 10-match winless streak on the road. However, they are unbeaten in normal time in four away cup games this season, beating Middlesbrough and Southend in the FA Cup both by two goals to nil. They were dumped out of the League Cup to Spurs at White Hart Lane, but that defeat came after a penalty shootout.

They have not reached the quarter-finals of this competition since 2009, but manager Steve Bruce has his own successful affiliation with the FA Cup having won it three times as a player with Manchester United. He has not fared so well as a manger, however, only reaching the quarters once, where his Birmingham side were thrashed 7-0 by Liverpool.

TEAM NEWS: We're nearing kickoff at the Amex Stadium, so it is time for some team news from both camps. The biggest news for the hosts is that Buckley returns for his first start of 2014, while Andrews and Forster-Caskey have also shaken off injuries in time to be included. For the visitors, McGregor returns in goal having served a suspension, while Aluko makes his first start since October in the absence of cup-tied duo Jelavic and Long. Full team news for both sides coming up...

BRIGHTON STARTING XI: Brezovan; Calderon, Upson, Dunk, Chicksen; Ince, Foster-Caskey, Andrews; Buckley, LuaLua, Ulloa

BRIGHTON SUBS: Ankergren, Bruno, Greer, March, Rodriquez, David, Obika

HULL STARTING XI: McGregor; Figueroa, Davies, Huddlestone, Koren, Livermore, Sagbo, Faye, Aluko, Elmohamady, Quinn

HULL SUBS: Harper, Bruce, Chester, Meyler, Boyd, Fryatt, Henderson

PREDICTION: We're just five minutes from kickoff now, which means that it is time for my match prediction! This is a tough one to call, with an in-form Championship side hosting a Premier League team battling against relegation. I don't see many goals flying in tonight given both side's strong defensive records, and I would not be surprised to see Brighton come away with the victory. However, overall I think that a draw is the most likely result here, so I'll go for 1-1.

Neither of these sides have the greatest pedigree in this competition, with just one appearance in the final between them. Brighton were responsible for that, making it to Wembley in 1983 only to lose to Manchester United in a replay. The best Hull have managed is a trip to the last four way back in 1930.

Brighton have lost just one of their last 11 home games in the FA Cup, but have won just two of their last 11 against top-flight opposition - both coming against Newcastle United. Hull, meanwhile, have won their last three FA Cup games away from home, scoring six goals and conceding just one.

Before the match we will have the latest tribute to the late great Tom Finney, who sadly passed away at the weekend. The tributes have been thoroughly deserved for one of England's greatest ever players, and a true legend of the game.

KICKOFF: We're underway at the Amex for what should be a very intriguing FA Cup tie for a place in the quarter-finals of the famous competition. Who will set up a tie against Sunderland in the next round?

Brighton enjoy a good early spell of possession, which will just settle them down a bit. They may have faced Hull in the Championship only last season, but the matches become a lot bigger for players when any Premier League side comes to town in the cup.

Brighton make a bright break down the right channel and Lua Lua looks to cause problems with his pace. He drills a low cross into the box, but McGregor is down quickly to smother the delivery at his near post.

It is by no means a full Amex Stadium tonight, but the ground is still filling up. Many fans will have missed the start of the match due to transport problems around England at the moment, so we should - sooner or later - have a relatively full ground.

It has been a fairly low key start to this match, but Brighton are seeing a lot of the ball. They may be coming up against Premier League opposition, but they are still trying to play their own brand of football. So far, they have been able to do that.

Poor challenge from Figueroa right on the edge of the box as he lunged in to bring down Ulloa. It is over to the right of the box, so the angle may just be against Brighton in terms of shooting.

It is a waste from the hosts as Buckley's cross is over-hit. Lua Lua picks it up wide left before cutting inside and squeezing it to Forster-Caskey, who scuffs a long-range strike well wide.

Huddlestone gives the ball away in a dangerous area around 25 yards from his own goal, but Brighton are unable to take advantage as Buckley takes one touch too many before firing a shot well over the bar.

Oscar Garcia will be very happy with the start his side have made to this match. They are asking most of the questions in attack and do look capable of using their possession well in the right areas rather than just knocking it about aimlessly at the back. The Championship outfit have been the better team so far.

Andrews drives forward from midfield before hitting a powerful shot that is well blocked by the defence. Andrews wants a handball, but it was an optimistic shout from the midfielder and the referee didn't give it much consideration.

Hull are sitting very deep at the moment, with the defence spending most of their time in a bank of four on the edge of their own box. It is not often you see that with a Premier League team against a Championship side, and you have to give Brighton credit for forcing them back.

Good play from Brighton on the right and they eventually squeeze a delivery into the middle. Forster-Caskey goes for an ambitious acrobatic volley with his back to goal but can't keep it down as it goes well over the bar.

SHOT! Better from Hull as their front two link up well for the first time tonight to create space for Sagbo on the edge of the box. His finish is disappointing, however, as he drags a tame effort harmlessly wide of the near post.

Hull have their best spell of possession so far, but they can't make any significant ground with it as Brighton defend well in numbers. The visitors have had just 41% of the ball so far, so they need to start retaining it better if they are to put Brighton under pressure.

Another passing move from the visitors ends with Koren sending an aimless aerial ball forward that Brezovan comes off his line to collect under no pressure. Despite the lack of penetration, though, Hull are starting to look a bit dangerous on the ball.

Figueroa sends a nicely shaped curling cross into the box, but Upson is on hand to make an important clearance. The Tigers are really beginning to ask more questions now, but so far the hosts are standing firm.

We're still waiting for our first real chance of this match, but it hasn't been a boring spectacle. Both teams are looking to play a good style of football, but they have not been able to break the other down so far.

OFF THE BAR! There is the best moment of the match so far by some distance! The ball is swung into the area and Sagbo gets ahead of his man with a good piece of movement, only to hit the woodwork with a brilliant improvised volley. That is so unlucky for the visitors.

Brighton come forward through Forster-Caskey, who advances into the area but just takes too long making his mind up before seeing his effort blocked by a fine sliding tackle.

GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Hull (Leonardo Ulloa)

First blood to Brighton, and what an impressive goal it is from the hosts. Ulloa sends a lovely flick to Buckley on the halfway line before racing through for the return ball. It duly comes from Buckley, and Ulloa runs into the area before producing a delightful little chip over the diving McGregor. Superb goal.

OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, how is this one not 1-1?! The visitors come within inches of levelling things up immediately with a superb header from Davies, who leaps higher than everyone else in the box to power an effort against the bar. Sagbo nods it back into the danger area and Upson gets the final touch as it spins into the arms of Brezovan, who grabs on to it gratefully.

Chicksen is in trouble here after a hefty challenge from Davies. The two both only had eyes for the ball, but Davies absolutely clattered into the Brighton man and left him in a heap on the floor.

Chicksen will be able to continue here having received a bit of treatment to momentarily halt a match which has really got going in the last 10 minutes or so. It has been a really good first half so far.

YELLOW CARD! Sone Aluko becomes the first man in the book for a cynical challenge from behind. Those will always result in a caution from the referee, so it is no surprise to see Lee Probert produce his yellow card.

Brighton have won their last four home games by this scoreline, but I would be surprised if this one ended 1-0 to the hosts. Hull have been very unlucky not to have scored already, and they will pour more and more men forward as the match progresses.

Aluko picks up the ball in midfield and only has one thought on his mind as he looks to shoot from range, only to drag his effort well wide of the ball. That was a waste of a decent position from the FA Cup debutant.

The hosts have just taken their foot off the pedal in the last five minutes or so as they look to make it to half time with their lead intact. Oscar Garcia seems to have told his side that defence is a priority in these closing stages of the half, and who can blame him? That is wide management.

Really good defending from Upson as he produces a fine header from deep inside his own box to prevent the ball reaching Sagbo at the back post. It was Quinn who delivered a good looking ball towards his striker, but Upson did very well.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this half.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Brighton to double their lead right on the stroke of half time! Ulloa sneaks in unmarked at the back post and he has plenty of time to pick his spot with a header, but he can only send it a whisker past the post. That was a sitter for the striker, who can't quite believe that he has missed it. He's not alone - half the ground thought it was in as it ripple past the side netting.

HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Hull City

Well, what a good half of football that was. We expected an intriguing match and these two teams certainly haven't disappointed on that front. Brighton go into the break with a slender 1-0 lead, but that only tells a fraction of the story between two teams who have looked very evenly matched so far. The second half should be very interesting.

The goal came from Leonardo Ulloa, and it is one that the striker won't forget in a hurry. It was a moment of Premier League class from the Championship outfit as he flicked the ball to Buckley before running through on goal for the return pass. He then dinked the ball over the keeper with a lovely finish on the run to give his side the lead.

One that he will want to forget is his chance right at the end of the first half as he guided a glorious opportunity just past the post. He was completely unmarked at the back post and had time to steer his header on target but somehow missed the target when he really should have scored. It remains to be seen whether Hull will make the hosts pay for that, but there is no doubt that 2-0 at half time will have looked a lot better than 1-0.

Hull have also threatened on a few occasions and are very unlucky not to have scored at least once. They hit the bar moments before Brighton's opening goal as Sagbo produced a brilliant improvised volley that came off the underside of the crossbar with the keeper beaten. It would have been some finish from the striker, who managed to hook the ball towards goal under heavy pressure from the defender at the near post.

They hit the bar again just two minutes after going behind, and again they were unfortunate not to score as Curtis Davies powered a magnificent header onto the bar having beaten two defenders in the air. It came back to Sagbo in the area and he nodded it back into the six-yard box, where El Mohamady missed the ball and Upson sliced it into the arms of his own keeper.

Hull are out for the second half nice and early and are eventually joined on the field by Brighton. There is still all to play for in the upcoming 45 minutes with a home tie against Sunderland up for grabs in the next round.

KICKOFF: Hull get us back underway for what should be a very interesting second half. Who will make it into the last eight of the FA Cup?

BRIGHTON SUB: The hosts did make a change at the break as Will Buckley is replaced by Solomon March. We are hearing that it is a tactical change from Oscar Garcia, which is an interesting call.

Calderon is down here following an aerial challenge from Quinn. The replay shows that he did get a blow to the mouth, but Quinn had his eyes on the ball the whole way so I'm sure it was nothing malicious.

There is plenty of blood coming from the mouth of Calderon, but there is no question of it being a red card for me. It was a genuine attempt from Quinn to get the ball, he just happened to catch the stand-in Brighton skipper.

Promising break from the hosts as Lua Lua runs at the Hull defence before looking for a square pass to Forster-Caskey. However, the ball just gets caught under the feet of the Brighton midfielder, and Hull are able to get it clear.

Huddlestone whips a good corner into the area and it goes a long way without any Hull player being able to get a touch on it. It flashes across the box and Davies was not far away from connecting with it, but in the end it goes all the way through and away from danger.

Brighton are beginning to press a little higher up the pitch in the second half, looking to win the ball back deep inside the Hull half. However, when the visitors get inside the Brighton half they are dropping quite deep and defending in numbers.

YELLOW CARD! Koren becomes the second Hull man in the book for a trip on March, who had darted past the Hull skipper. The incident took place around a foot away from the referee, so he can't be accused of not having a good view of that one!

March lofts a ball over the top which Ulloa tries to take down but just mis-controls it and it escapes his grasp. That was by no means an easy ball to control, but had he done so he would have had a good chance.

That's a waste from Brighton as they break quickly following a poor Hull corner. Chicksen leads the charge upfield, but he drifts off to the left before trying an over-ambitious crossfield pass to Ulloa that McGregor picks off comfortably.

YELLOW CARD! Chicksen goes into the book for an untidy lunge on El Mohamady, and he can have no complaints. Brighton will be more worried by the fact that Hull now have a free kick in a good crossing position. What can they do with this one?

It is a really clever delivery from Huddlestone as he drills a low, powerful ball into the box, looking for any sort of deflection that could take it in. It does get a touch on the way through, but spins up and over the crossbar for a corner.

Davies stands firm in defence to make a good tackle to dispossess Ulloa, who had got away from one defender and would have been through on goal had he made it past Davies. Important challenge.

HULL SUBS: Steve Bruce decides that now is the time to change things as he makes a double substitution. Quinn comes off for Matty Fryatt, while Abdoulaye Faye slowly walks off to be replaced by George Boyd. Attacking subs from Bruce as he looks to chase this game.

March picks up the ball on the right wing and he cuts inside Boyd onto his left foot before going for goal. He doesn't catch his effort right, however, and it is always skewing off to the left.

Bruce would have brought Boyd on to be an attacking threat, but so far he has had two defensive duties and has been beaten on both occasions. The latest sees March skip past him again, but his low cross into the box is well defended.

March does well down the right again before pulling the ball back to Calderon, who curls an effort high and wide of the mark. March is really starting to have a positive impact in this game.

Davies finds himself on the right wing for some reason, but he can't use the ball well, slicing a cross behind for a goal kick having been bundled over from behind. Probert waves away claims for a free kick, but Davies had a legitimate shout there.

Good goalkeeping from Brezovan as he comes a long way to claim an outswinging cross from El Mohamady. He had to get that one otherwise Boyd would have had a clear chance to nod it into the empty net, and he took it really well.

Surprisingly, there has only been one shot on target this evening, and that was the goal. It has been a more entertaining match than that statistic suggests, however, and remember that Hull have hit the bar twice and Brighton have also come close with a glorious chance.

Aluko is just about to pull the trigger when Forster-Caskey drags him down right on the edge of the box. This is a very good position for Hull from the free kick, and Huddlestone will be licking his lips at this one. Could this be the moment for the visitors?

Predictably, Huddlestone goes for sheer power but the wall does its job really well be holding firm and blocking the shot. He seemed to be gambling on them moving out the way then. Moments later he has another chance to shoot from range, but this time he sends it well wide.

BRIGHTON SUB: Goalscorer Ulloa goes off to a huge reception from the home fans, and rightly so as so far his fine goal is putting the Seagulls in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. He is replaced by Jonathan Obika.

Hull have had 63% of possession in the last five minutes, but they have not done enough with it. Neither side have created a clear chance in the second half, and the onus is now on the visitors to change that.

HULL SUB: Hull make their final change of the match as Livermore makes way to be replaced by David Meyler. Can the Irish international change things in the final eight minutes?

Really good work from Lua Lua as he puts all of his effort in to just beat El Mohamady to the ball, drawing a free kick. That work rate is warmly received by the home fans, who are just starting to see the finish line in this match now.

Koren and Boyd link up to almost create a chance for the latter bursting into the box, but the Seagulls deal with the danger again. They have defended really well at times today.

GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Hull (Yannick Sagbo)

It is heartbreak for Brighton as Hull level the scores with just five minutes remaining. It was a smart finish from Sagbo, who controlled Aluko's pass inside the area to take him past the desperate challenge of Dunk before putting the ball through the legs of Brezovan from close range.

Brighton have defended really well today, but it must be said that Hull deserve that equaliser for the pressure they had exerted in the second half. The Premier League side will fancy their chances of going on to win this one now, which would be devastating for the hosts.

Things are getting frenetic now as both teams look to pour men forward to find a late winning goal. Obika has a chance to hit one on the volley, but he scuffs his effort off a defender and out for a corner.

CHANCE! Late chance for Brighton, but Davies pulls off a fine piece of defending late on. Upson nodded a corner back into the danger zone and for a moment it looks like Brighton may have an easy tap in at the back post, but Davies throws himself at the ball to make a brave challenge.

There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match. Time for more late drama?

The home fans are getting increasingly exasperated with Lee Probert here as the ref has twice turned down potential fouls on Lua Lua. The first of those took place just before Hull scored the goal, which obviously did nothing to endear the ref to the Brighton faithful.

GREAT DEFENDING! Superb piece of defending from Dunk as he throws himself across the box to deny a Koren shot after the Hull man had broken free inside the box.

BRIGHTON SUB: The hosts make their final change of the game as Rodriguez comes on for Lua Lua, who was beginning to look tired.

OFF THE LINE! What a moment for Forster-Caskey as he keeps his side in the FA Cup with a dramatic clearance off the line. Meyler launched himself at a corner and sent a powerful header towards the far corner, but the Brighton man was in the right place at the right time to make a vital clearance.

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Hull City

What a finale that was to the match! Hull scored a late equaliser and could have gone on to win it late on when they had a header cleared off the line. Brighton had chances too, but in the end they will need to make a trip to the KC Stadium for a fifth round replay for the right to play Sunderland in the quarter-finals.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a cracker of a cup tie as Brighton and Hull share the spoils at the Amex Stadium. The goals came from Ulloa and Sagbo, but that only tells a small amount of the story. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction to this dramatic game. We have plenty more live football for you over the week, most notably the return of the Champions League, so be sure to check back in with us for that too. Until then, though, it is goodbye from me!

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Steve Bruce, manager of Hull City looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Hull City at Selhurst Park on January 28, 2014
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