FA Cup: Balogun Absent As Brighton Beat Derby To Reach Q-Finals

Brighton Hove Albion secured a back-to-back FA Cup quarter-finals feat for the first time in the club’s history thanks to a 2-1 win over Derby County, without Leon Balogun named in the matchday squad for the Seagulls, reports Completesports.com.

Balogun has made two appearances in the competition for the Seagulls this season.

The Seagulls deservedly took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ashley Knockaert swept in Yves Bissouma’s cross from 16 yards.

Their second goal came in the stoppage time of first-half when Jurgen Locadia tapped in the rebound after Bissouma hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box.

However, former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole reduced the deficit for Derby in the 81st minute – the left-back’s first goal in England since September 2012.

The goal also saw Cole scoring his first competitive goal in English football for six and a half years.

It is the fourth time the Seagulls have progressed this far in the competition and they will now bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since they lost the 1983 final.

Brighton have just one win in their past 11 Premier League games and have slipped to within three points of the relegation zone.

They have ten days until their next fixture against Leicester City in the Premier League — at the King Power Stadium.

By Johnny Edward