Brighton & Hove Albion v Grimsby Town Live Commentary & Result, 19/03/2023, FA Cup

That's all from the Amex today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

While Brighton are now into the semi-finals for only the third time in their history and head into the international break buoyed, Grimsby must return to League Two duty on Wednesday, when they visit Mansfield Town.

In impressive style, Brighton move into the FA Cup's final four with a five-star performance at the Amex. The Seagulls' first-half display was one of control, but after the break they simply sped away from their plucky League Two opponents with some superb passing sequences - none more so than for their fantastic fourth goal. Grimsby were unable to ever get a foothold in the game and were well beaten in the end, but they still have many fond memories from their run to this stage.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 5-0 GRIMSBY TOWN

90' + 2' MISS! Mitoma misses another glaring chance, and he could have had a hat-trick at least! This time, the winger slips the ball narrowly wide of the right-hand post with a sidefoot finish!

K. Mitoma

Goal

90' BRIGHTON HAVE FIVE! Rewarded for his brilliance today, Mitoma finally has a goal! The ball rolls into his path on the edge of the box, and a low drive is deflected past Crocombe by Waterfall's outstretched leg! It trickles into the bottom-left corner, and Brighton lead 5-0!

P. Groß

Assist

90' Gross picks out Mitoma on the brink of Grimsby's area, to set up a fifth Brighton goal.

88' CLOSE! Mitoma dazzles Efete with some smart footwork, before jabbing a backheel at Crocombe at the near post, which falls for Ayari. The substitute then sees his deflected shot spin just wide!

86' GOOD STOP! A layoff from Taylor tees up McAtee in the Brighton box, but he sees his shot towards the far corner palmed wide by a diving save from Sanchez at full stretch!

E. Khouri

G. Holohan

84' Grimsby's fifth-round hero Holohan is now taken off, as Khouri comes on.

A. Webster

Assist

82' After an excellent team move, Webster picks out March in the six-yard box with precise cross from the right.

S. March

Goal

82' BRILLIANT GOAL! Brighton put the cap on a superb display, as a long passing sequence ends with March diving to head the ball past Crocombe and into the bottom-left corner of the net! They were shifting it around with purpose, before Mitoma passed to Webster, whose cross was well met by March: 4-0!

81' SAVE! Diving low, Crocombe shuts out a well-struck drive towards hs near post by Welbeck, who is released into the area by March's smart pass! The Seagulls are relentless!

80' With an ambitious attempt at a bicycle kick from 10 yards out, Ayari just fails to latch on to Caicedo's chipped ball and it drifts behind for a goal-kick.

J. van Hecke

L. Dunk

78' Van Hecke also comes on for a brief cameo, with Dunk making way.

Y. Ayari

A. Mac Allister

78' Making his debut, Ayari replaces Mac Allister for the final few minutes.

76' A measure of Brighton's total dominance now is that just seven per cent of the action has been in their defensive third during the last 15 minutes

74' Brighton continue to press on in search of more goals: they simply don't know how to sit back. Just on from the bench, Welbeck has a shot but sees it blocked by a Grimsby defender.

D. Welbeck

E. Ferguson

72' There's to be no hat-trick for Ferguson, as Welbeck will replace him up front for the final stages.

J. Sarmiento

D. Undav

71' Brighton now give Sarmiento a run-out, with Undav making way.

R. Taylor

O. Khan

71' Khan also comes off; Taylor will replace him.

B. Morris

H. Clifton

71' Hurst rings the changes now, as Clifton is withdrawn for Morris to come on.

D. Undav

Assist

70' It's just a short pass from Undav on the edge of the penalty area that puts Ferguson clear to rifle home.

E. Ferguson

Goal

70' FERGUSON STRIKES AGAIN! Soon after having a second goal wiped out for offside, Ferguson bags his brace! The young striker scores his third FA Cup goal in two games, receiving the ball from Undav and finishing into the bottom-left corner! It's 3-0 to Brighton!

67' OFF THE BAR! Webster strikes the woodwork from six yards out, as he volleys March's nod-down following a corner! The flag goes up soon after, though, as the latter was seen to have fouled his marker.

67' Mitoma tumbles to the deck inside the penalty area under a challenge from Efete, and there are loud appeals for a penalty from Brighton players and fans alike. However, the referee is unmoved and the game goes on.

66' With the game wide open now, Driscoll-Glennon tries a throughball towards Khan just outside the area but the latter is caught offside.

64' Finally, Caicedo is cleared to continue, and he resumes his midfield role for Wembley-bound Brighton.

62' Appearing in some distress after a tussle in the packed penalty area, Caicedo is left down on the turf and requires medical attention. The action is paused.

60' SAVE! At close range, Sanchez has to stand tall and palm away McAtee's shot, after the Grimsby substitute slips past Webster and into the six-yard box! That's by far the visitors' best chance so far!

57' NO GOAL! Ferguson's second strike of the half is ruled out by the VAR! There was an offside in the build-up.

57' 3-0 TO BRIGHTON? The hosts think they've extended their advantage, as Ferguson breaks through the centre to slot past Crocombe and into the net. Was there an offside, though? The VAR is assessing it.

55' JUST WIDE! By a whisker, Mitoma misses the far post with a daisy-cutter from 20 yards! He slipped inside from the left flank before aiming across goal – so close!

53' It looks like Grimsby's dream of a trip to Wembley is now fading, as they are not only two down to one of the top teams in the country, they are also unable to stem the tide of blue-and-white jerseys towards their goal.

A. Mac Allister

Assist

51' Picking out Ferguson by the penalty spot, Mac Allister clips a short ball into his team-mate's path and records an assist.

E. Ferguson

Goal

51' BRIGHTON GO TWO UP! A wonderful combination of instinct and technique allows Ferguson to control an awkward ball from Mac Allister into the box, before turning sharply and poking the ball into the bottom-right corner with a clinical finish! It's a superb strike from the Irishman, and Brighton lead 2-0!

50' Mitoma tees up Caicedo for a shot from the edge of the area, but the latter's attempt is struck powerfully over the crossbar when a little more composure was perhaps needed.

48' OFF THE POST! A cross from the right by March takes a huge deflection, sending the ball looping over Crocombe's head and towards the back post. It strikes the inside of the upright before Undav blazes the ball over the bar! That was a bad miss!

L. Colwill

P. Estupiñán

46' Brighton also decide to make a half-time switch: Estupinan is withdrawn and Colwill will replace him.

J. McAtee

K. Green

46' Green also makes way; McAtee is on in his place.

A. Hunt

D. Orsi

46' After barely touching the ball during the first half, Orsi is replaced; Hunt comes on.

46' Having made a couple of half-time substitutions, Grimsby kick off, and we are back under way at the Amex!

While it only takes one goal to change a game - and in this case, potentially send the tie into extra-time - Grimsby striker Orsi had just seven touches in the first half and they didn't manage a single shot on target. As Brighton have won each of their last six FA Cup matches when leading at half-time, the League Two side will need to produce something special if they are to make the semi-finals.

Without ever sliding into top gear, Brighton's typically precise play has ensured they lead at the interval of this FA Cup quarter-final. Only in Grimsby's area have the Premier League side sometimes failed to keep their composure, and allied with some dogged defending from the visitors, the scoreline remains only 1-0 in their favour. Roberto De Zerbi will be keen to kill off the tie and book a date at Wembley after the interval, but the Mariners' cup run could yet have another dramatic twist during the second half.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-0 GRIMSBY TOWN

45' Conceding a free-kick, Efete topples Mitoma with a powerful aerial challenge in midfield, as the first half enters a single minute of stoppage time.

43' Crocombe is alert to snaffle the ball near his left-hand post, as March's cross from the right is heavily deflected and spins towards the lurking Mac Allister.

41' MISS! Mitoma makes progress into the area again, and from the left side of the box he cuts back a pass for the on-rushing Gross. An awful attempt from near the penalty spot – with the goal at his mercy – sends the ball careering over the crossbar!

39' JUST WIDE! Unable to get his shot off cleanly under pressure from two Grimsby defenders, Caicedo's low attempt towards the bottom-right corner narrowly misses the upright! Brighton are really turning up the heat now, in search of a second goal!

38' CLOSE! After Brighton's first corner almost dips under the crossbar direct from the kick, their second in quick succession ends with Mitoma driving a shot just wide of the right-hand post!

36' Mitoma almost reaches the left byline at top speed, but just as he is about to cut the ball back into the box, Efete makes a brilliant last-ditch block and bundles the ball behind for a corner.

33' MISS! After Gross gets to the right byline and fires a low cross towards the back post, it seems that Mitoma must surely score. However, on the stretch, the Brighton winger somehow manages to divert the ball wide! He really should've scored!

32' NO HANDBALL! Sanchez escapes censure, as the VAR decides that he was just on the line when handling the ball. He would have been in big trouble there!

31' HANDBALL? Coming right to the very brink of his box, Sanchez beats Orsi to the ball and dives to the turf grasping it. But was he outside the area when he first touched the ball? The VAR will decide!

29' First Undav and then Mitoma try to force a way through on the left side of the area, but Grimsby's massed ranks at the back stand firm and shut them out.

27' A loose touch from Ferguson lets the ball escape his spell on the right side of the penalty area, and Crocombe then pounces to smother it.

25' From the right flank, March cuts back inside and swings over a cross to the edge of the box, from where Undav's flicked header is steered straight at Crocombe. That's a simple save for the Grimsby keeper.

24' Clifton is caught offside as he attempts to break from central midfield and support Orsi, his rather isolated colleague up front.

22' At full stretch, Driscoll-Glennon makes a crucial sliding block to stop Mitoma's ball along the six-yard box reaching March at the back post. It'll be Brighton's first corner.

20' Every Grimsby player is back inside their defensive third, as Brighton patiently cycle possession around and seek an opening. They've no real need to rush things, with an early advantage already in the bag.

18' Lunging into a challenge with Holohan deep inside Grimsby's half, Undav concedes a free-kick and the pressure is released on the Mariners' defence.

16' A surge down the right flank from Efete forces Estupinan into a tackle which sends the ball behind for a Grimsby corner – their first of the game. However, Dunk makes a clearing header from the set-piece and any danger eventually dissipates.

14' Holohan steps in on the edge of his own area to cut out a low throughball from Gross, and Crocombe comes out to gratefully gather the ball.

12' Undav and Mac Allister combine on the edge of the box, but Waterfall does well to intervene and divert the danger. Then, Dunk almost beats his own goalkeeper with a reckless back-pass and Sanchez has to scramble back to keep it from crossing the line.

10' In a rare foray upfield, Grimsby fail to spring Brighton's offside trap: Driscoll-Glennon tries a throughball, but Orsi is caught just the wrong side of the last defender.

8' Already in front today, Brighton have avoided defeat in their last nine FA Cup matches when scoring the opening goal - a run which dates back to January 2017.

D. Undav

Goal

6' BRIGHTON LEAD! Pouncing from close range on the right side of the box, Undav puts the home side in front after Caicedo's 20-yard shot is spilled by Crocombe! The goalkeeper pushes the ball into a dangerous area, and the Brighton forward is first to react! It's 1-0 to the Seagulls!

4' As expected, Brighton are dominating the ball, and Grimsby's back three is shaping up more like a back five at the moment: the League Two team will surely have to withstand plenty of pressure today.

2' SAVE! Crocombe has to dive low to his left and smother Ferguson's prodded strike from 10 yards, following a smart throughball by Mac Allister! Already, the Premier League team come close to taking the lead!

1' The hosts kick off, and we are under way in Brighton!

The players are out on the pitch at the Amex, and kick-off in this FA Cup quarter-final is now just moments away!

Grimsby also make a quartet of changes, including the promotion of Holohan to the first XI: his brace in the fifth-round brought victory over Southampton. Hurst also brings in Driscoll-Glennon, Khan and Orsi; dropping Amos, Morris, Lloyd and Taylor.

There are four changes for Brighton today, as Sanchez, Webster, Undav and Republic of Ireland striker Ferguson come into the starting XI. The latter scored the Seagulls' winner in their fifth-round win over Stoke, and he leads the line in place of Welbeck, who drops to the bench.

SUBS: Ollie Battersby, Shaun Pearson, Ryan Taylor, John McAtee, Joshua Emmanuel, Evan Khouri, Bryn Morris, Alex Hunt, Danny Amos.

GRIMSBY TOWN (3-5-2): Max Crocombe; Niall Maher, Luke Waterfall, Andy Smith; Michee Efete, Kieran Green, Gavan Holohan, Harry Clifton, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon; Otis Khan, Danilo Orsi.

SUBS: Jason Steele, Levi Colwill, Joel Veltman, Yasin Ayari, Julio Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Danny Welbeck.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Pervis Estupinan; Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Solly March, Deniz Undav, Kaoru Mitoma; Evan Ferguson.

By far the lowest-ranked team still left in this year's FA Cup, Grimsby Town stunned Southampton 2-1 in the fifth round and are today making a first quarter-final appearance since 1939. The Mariners started their journey in the first round, beating Plymouth Argyle, Cambridge United, Burton Albion, Luton Town and most recently Southampton to reach the last eight; in doing so, they became the first team ever to eliminate five teams from higher divisions. Of late, back-to-back 1-0 wins have lifted Paul Hurst's side to 15th in the League Two table.

Premier League high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion today tackle their third FA Cup quarter-final tie in the space of six seasons. Roberto De Zerbi's men saw off Stoke City 1-0 in the last round, after previously knocking out Middlesbrough and holders Liverpool. The Seagulls also sit seventh in the top-flight table, having taken seven points from their last three games, and victory over Crystal Palace in midweek was their fifth win from six home games in all competitions.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's FA Cup quarter-final tie between Brighton & Hove Albion and Grimsby Town at the Amex Stadium!

Brighton & Hove Albion v Grimsby Town Live Commentary, 19/03/2023

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