BISSOUMA KNOCKS OUT GOLDEN COLEY
Brighton 2 Derby 1 Tom Hopkinson
THE first FA Cup goal of seventime winner Ashley Cole’s career failed to spark another Derby comeback as Brighton booked their place in the quarter-finals.
The 38-year-old gave the Rams hope when he halved the deficit late on in what was his 49th and, maybe, final appearance in the famous old competition.
But despite some serious pressure from the visitors in the dying moments of the game, Brighton held their nerve. And goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia in a dominant first half were enough to see them into the last eight.
Derby were dreadful during that first period and, despite only 13 places separating the two sides in the English football pyramid, the gulf in class between the Premier League and Championship was evident.
Boss Frank Lampard said: “In the first half we were slow, we had a lack of urgency. To come to a Premier League team and give them time on the ball was a cardinal sin.
“You’re waiting for them to score and after the first 15 minutes we weren’t at the races. Whether it’s fear, whether it’s respect, it’s not enough to come here and get a result.” Derby were much better after the interval thanks to the introduction of Cole and forward Jack Marriott – and a change in system.
And when Cole headed home nine minutes from time they looked like they might haul in a two-goal deficit just as they had done against another Premier League side, Southampton, in the third round.
But Chris Hughton’s men held on to dash any hopes Cole had of claiming an unlikely eighth FA Cup winner’s medal.
Lampard added: “I’m delighted for him because, at 38, he could comfortably kick back, but he has a real desire and humility and work ethic, and his performance was good and will get better because of fitness.
“To be high up the pitch and score with his head was a big surprise, but it will give him confidence and we will need him.”
Hughton made eight changes to the side beaten
3-1 by Burnley in Brighton’s last Premier League outing and one of them, Yves Bissouma, ran the show in the first half.
The Ivory Coast-born Mali midfielder was excellent, and he and Knockaert created chances that Kelle Roos had to save. Knockaert tested the Derby keeper again soon after as he cut inside on to his left foot and a Brighton goal looked to be coming.
Unsurprisingly, Bissouma was heavily involved when it did. He burst down the right before the ball was pulled back to Knockaert who tucked his effort beyond Roos.
Martyn Waghorn couldn’t connect properly with a volley shortly before half-time and Derby suffered another blow when Bissouma’s good work led to Brighton’s second.
This time he hit a post with a fine effort and Locadia slotted home from the rebound.
Locadia’s delight turned to disappointment when he limped off in the second half and Hughton confirmed he had been sent for a scan to assess the damage.
Brighton boss Hughton said: “It was very nervy at the end and the only disappointment we have got is that we made harder work of it.”