Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1
The Sky Blues run in this season's competition finally came to an end after they were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup by Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex.
Coventry's run had seen them see off Maidenhead United, Boreham Wood and Stoke City at the Ricoh Arena, before they knocked out Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK to reach this stage of the competition.
They were up against a team in form in the shape of Brighton though who themselves had knocked out bitter rivals Crystal Palace at home before dumping Middlesbrough out at the Riverside in the last round, and the hosts although massive favourites for this tie, would of still been wary of the Sky Blues who had nothing to lose coming into this one.
The Seagulls imposed themselves on their League Two opponents early on and almost took a fifth minute lead when Markus Suttner delivered a corner into the box and saw Uwe Huenemeier head the ball down for Jurgen Locadia who saw his effort smack against the crossbar.
However the visitors then responded and after Dale Stephens had headed over, Johnson Clark-Harris headed a cross against the hosts bar. But in the 15th minute the hosts grabbed the lead when Locadia netted from close range, converting Anthony Knockhaerts low cross, and the Premier League side had the early goal they needed to settle any nerves.
Two minutes later Solly March weaved his way into the visitors box but failed to get a shot away, and then just past the half hour mark another good delivery into the Sky Blues area by Suttner was met by Locadia, however the effort failed to find the target.
But in the 34th minute the Seagulls doubled their lead when the brilliant Suttner delivered a set-piece into the box and Brighton centre half Connor Goldson rose highest to nod home and see the hosts grab more breathing space between themselves and the visitors.
Coventry knew that they needed the next goal if they were going to get anything from this one, and seven minutes before the break Josh Barrett struck a half-volley just wide of the hosts goal, before down the other end Locadia fired an effort straight at Lee Burge.
Knockhaert then fired over for the hosts a minute later after Dale Stephens had lofted a pass to the far post, and then a minute before the break Grimmer headed wide for the visitors, and it meant the hosts reached the break with a two goal lead.
Half Time Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Coventry City 0
The hosts changed keepers at half time, with Tim Krul making way for Niki Maenpaa, and the sub keepers first action came just before the hour mark when he claimed a catch from a Coventry free kick as the visitors looked to grab a lifeline in this contest. Moments before that McNulty had fired a first time effort over the Seagulls goal.
But any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished just past the hour mark when the hosts made it three as skipper Bruno produced a cross for Leonardo Ulloa to glance a header into the top corner, and pretty much seal this cup tie with just under half an hour to play.
This pleased the majority of the 26,966 in attendance with the 4,335 from Coventry not having much to cheer so far in this tie, although that nearly changed when Clarke-Harris found the woodwork again, and then they almost saw their side fall further behind when March fired a ball to the back post and Goldson headed an effort over the bar.
With thirteen minutes left though the Sky Blues gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they managed to find a goal to reduce the deficit as Clarke-Harris fired home from inside the box, but it was only a glimmer, however the only notible moments in the remainder of the contest saw Sam Baldock rattle the visitors woodwork in stoppage time, whilst a Clarke-Harris effort down the other end deflected off a defender but into the arms of keeper Maenpaa.
So it's the Premier League side who progress through to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday 17th March in the Quarter Finals. Congratulations to the Sky Blues as well for making it to the Last 16 of the competition too.
Full Time Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1
Here are some photos courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion FC:-
Right lets see what happened in the remainder of the round, with a look at the results from the Fifth Round Proper:-
Friday 16th February
Leicester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Chelsea 4 Hull City 0
Saturday 17th February
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Swansea City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 Southampton 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Coventry City 1
Huddersfield Town 0 Manchester United 2
Sunday 18th February
Rochdale 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Monday 19th February
Wigan Athletic 1 Manchester City 0
Replays
Tuesday 27th February
Swansea City 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0
Wednesday 28th February
Tottenham Hotspur 6 Rochdale 1
No doubt about what the shock of the round was, as League One Wigan Athletic dumped Manchester City out of the competition in the Monday night game at the DW Stadium. In a re-run of the 2013 final, Will Grigg netted with thirteen minutes remaining to send the underdogs into the Quarter Finals. Rochdale of League One took Premier League Spurs to a replay, with the North London side netting six at Wembley in the replay to progress, whilst the only other tie that needed a replay was the Sheffield Wednesday against Swansea City contest, which the Premier League side won after a goalless draw in the original tie at Hillsborough. And with Leicester, Chelsea, Southampton, Brighton and Man United also progressing it means seven of the eight sides in the Quarter Finals are Premier League sides.
Here is the Quarter Final matchups:-
Saturday 17th March
Swansea City vs Tottenham Hotspur (12:15pm)
Manchester United vs Brighton & Hove Albion (7:45pm)
Sunday 18th March
Wigan Athletic vs Southampton (1:30pm)
Leicester City vs Chelsea (4:30pm)
Four decent Quarter Finals to look forward to then, and my featured tie comes from the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford, Manchester, as Manchester United host Brighton & Hove Albion. United are favourites of course but The Seagulls are on a good run of form and will go to the North West full of confidence.
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