Preview: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to advance to the last-16 stage of the FA Cup when they welcome Blackpool to the Amex on Saturday afternoon.

The Seagulls booked their spot in the fourth round courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over Newport County, while Blackpool have overcome Eastbourne Borough, Harrogate Town and West Bromwich Albion to progress to this stage of the competition.

Match preview

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As mentioned, Brighton advanced to this stage of the FA Cup by overcoming Newport in the last round, but it was far from straightforward for the Premier League club, who needed a penalty shootout to triumph following a 1-1 draw between the two teams.

The Seagulls have never won the FA Cup, but they did reach the final of the 1982-83 competition, losing to Manchester United following a replay.

Graham Potter's side will enter this weekend's contest off the back of a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the Premier League on January 16, with Neal Maupay scoring the only goal of the contest.

Brighton have picked up 17 points from their 19 league matches this season to sit 16th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone ahead of their next fixture at home to Fulham on January 27.

The top-flight outfit will be the favourites to triumph on Saturday, but Blackpool were victorious when the two teams last locked horns in the Championship in January 2015 courtesy of a strike from Jamie O'Hara.

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Blackpool will enter this weekend's clash off the back of a 1-1 draw with Hull City in the league on January 16, which left the club down in 16th position in the League One table.

The Seasiders have been impressive in the FA Cup this season, scoring seven unanswered goals against Eastbourne Borough and Harrogate in round one and two respectively to advance.

Neil Critchley's side then overcame Premier League side West Brom in round three, triumphing on penalties following a 2-2 draw at Bloomfield Road, with Matheus Pereira's missed effort proving decisive.

Blackpool are actually previous winners of the FA Cup, overcoming Bolton Wanderers 4-3 at Wembley Stadium in 1953, with Stan Mortensen scoring a hat-trick for the Tangerines.

Brighton & Hove Albion FA Cup form: WDLWWW Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions): WDLLWD

Blackpool FA Cup form: WDLWWW Blackpool form (all competitions): WDLLWD

Team News

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Potter revealed during Thursday's press conference that Tariq Lamptey, Florian Andone, Danny Welbeck, Adam Lallana, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Aaron Connolly will all be absent this weekend.

Jakub Moder has trained and could be in line to make his debut, though, and there is also expected to be another FA Cup start for Jason Steele between the sticks.

Yves Bissouma, Percy Tau and Davy Propper could also all come into the side following the Leeds clash, but Maupay should retain his spot in the final third of the field.

As for Blackpool, Demetri Mitchell is unavailable as he self-isolates following a positive coronavirus test, while Ben Woodburn will also not be involved, having returned to parent club Liverpool.

Critchley could decide to name the same XI that started the previous round against West Brom, with Jerry Yates and Gary Madine likely to feature in the final third of the field.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup: Steele; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Burn; Propper, White, Bissouma; Tau, Maupay, Trossard

Blackpool possible starting lineup: Maxwell; Turton, Ballard, Gretarsson, Husband; Kemp, Ward, Dougall, Lubala; Yates, Madine

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Blackpool

Blackpool will be looking to claim another Premier League scalp this weekend, but we are struggling to look past Brighton, who are expected to name a strong XI. The visitors could make it tough, but Potter's side should ultimately have enough to edge their way into the last-16 stage of the FA Cup.

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