Match Preview & Predictions - Brighton (A) - FA Cup - 28/01/2012 - Live on ESPN - 17:15

After last weekend’s second half capitulation to Fulham we face a stern test down the south coast against a decent Brighton team.

With the team currently on a ‘refresh’ break in Tenerife, Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s terrible second half display.

Gus Poyet (still despise this prick for those goals in that semi-final) is in the dugout for them and former Newcastle player Lua Lua is set to come back from injury. 

Our Thoughts:

@therealrobbo – Well…talk about a game of 2 halves! What happened at Fulham should be brushed aside for this potential banana skin.

Brighton just lucky to get past a spirited Wrexham side will be looking to knock United out of the cup live on TV (déjà vu anyone). Most ties of this nature are unpredictable and I can see both teams scoring and United perhaps coming away with at least a draw.

Prediction -   United to shade this 2-1 or 1-1 and a 40 yard screamer from Brighton which will be showed ad-infinitum every cup weekend football focus from now until the end of time.

@rammlet - We really should be taking the FA Cup as seriously as possible, there’s no point in playing a weakened side when all we want to do is win some silverware finally.

Having said that, I would like to see the likes of Vuckic and Abeid get a run-out, but ideally not too many changes.

If we play a reasonably strong side we can get a victory though for some reason I see us struggling. If we could get them back to SJP I’d be reasonably happy (apart from the extra game).

Prediction -  I’ll say score draw and United through in a replay.

@mattypnufc – The FA cup is an important competition in these parts.  Perhaps devalued due to the big clubs not giving too much of a fuck over the years sadly, it remains our best possible way of achieving silverware and European qualification.  We have to go all out for it.

We should be putting out a full strength team, however with three games in quick succession, changes will probably be made and probably the same as Gaz has said, put Vuckic & Mehdi in. 

It will be a tough game as Brighton aren’t an easy team especially at their place.

Prediction -  A 2-0 to us or an exciting 2-2 with the replay back at St James’.

Shola is still a happy lad even after last weekends game.  A pint of exhibition please pet.