RESULTS & FIXTURES
Seagulls keeper Ryan: All the pressure is on City
SKY BET LEAGUE TWO MANSFIELD (1) 1 LINCOLN CITY (0) 1 Pearce 4 Akinde 75 pen 7,177
LFBRIGHTON keeper Mat Ryan has claimed that all the pressure will be on Quadruple-chasing Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final next month.
Albion won through to the last four for the first time since 1983 with a penalty shoot-out win over Millwall on Sunday.
But League Cup-winning City will hope to keep alive their bid to become the first team to win the domestic treble and Champions League title.
Pep Guardiola’s side will be red-hot favourites at Wembley against the side 15th in the Premier League. But Australia No.1 Ryan said: “Whenever you play a big team like City it is a bit of a free hit.
“They are obviously a great team with a lot of great players. The pressure and expectation will be on them to win.
“But quite often in sport the underdog can make a game of it as we found out at Millwall and City also discovered at Swansea.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to make a game of it and give ourselves the best possible chance of beating them. We are not shying away from the fact we are facing a tough task. But this is a chance for us to do something special.”
Brighton beat City, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle and Liverpool on the way to their only FA Cup Final 36 years ago – and were relegated from the top flight the same year.
Since then the Seagulls have dipped into the fourth tier and came close to liquidation, before returning to the top in CRISTIANO RONALDO has been charged with improper conduct by UEFA – but is unlikely to face a ban.
Juventus superstar Ronaldo was reported by Atletico Madrid for his ‘cojones’ goal celebration during the Champions League win last week.
It was a clear dig at Atletico boss Diego Simeone, who was fined £18,000 by UEFA for his own celebration when he was seen grabbing his balls in the direction of his own fans.
Ronaldo could get a heavier fine as he was given their new Amex Stadium. “I will be proud to represent Brighton at Wembley when you consider where the club has come from the past few years,” added Ryan (above).
“To reach the semi-finals is something we can all be proud of. Someone told me at Millwall the only previous time Brighton reached the semis was the year they got to the final.
“I believe they also beat City on the way, then flew to Wembley in helicopters.
“So we know what this means to the club, fans and the city. It’s a special moment. I play the game to create as two charges – for conduct deemed “insulting” or “violating the basic rules of decent conduct” and for bringing football and UEFA into disrepute.
The Portuguese star led a remarkable Juventus fightback, scoring a hat-trick as the Italians came back from a 2-0 first-leg deficit to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
However, it is understood that, as Simeone was only fined, UEFA are unlikely to ban Ronaldo from the Champions League quarterfinal with Ajax. The case will be heard on Thursday. many memories as I can. And if we can follow the 1983 team by reaching the final everyone connected with Brighton will cherish the moment.”
Ryan, who saved a spot-kick in his first ever FA Cup tie, revealed that he consoled his opposite number Dave Martin after the Millwall star conceded a horrible stoppage-time equaliser to help Brighton fight back from 2-0 down and force extra time.
“I went up to Dave at the end and told him one moment does not define your career,” he said.
“You’ve just got to learn from your mistakes.”
We’re facing a tough task but this is an opportunity for us to do something special