Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Derby County 1: Knockaert strikes as Seagulls reach last eight

Brighton and Hove Albion reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the second season in a row with a 2-1 win over Derby County.

First-half goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia sent Chris Hughton’s side into the last eight in comfortable fashion against Frank Lampard’s men.

Ashley Cole scored his first goal for the club to halve the deficit, but Derby failed to repeat the comeback from 2-0 down that they produced twice against Southampton in the third round.

Brighton dominated the first half and deservedly took the lead 33 minutes in, when Knockaert swept home Yves Bissouma’s cross for his second FA Cup goal of the season.

Bissouma was inches from a fine second after curling a shot against the left-hand post, but Locadia was on hand to bury the rebound moments before the break.

1847 – Ashley Cole – who played in a record eight different post-war FA Cup finals – is making his first #FACup appearance in 1847 days, since playing alongside Frank Lampard for Chelsea against Stoke in January 2014. Gap. #BHADER pic.twitter.com/5ErXF6KRda

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2019

Lampard introduced seven-time winner Cole for the second half, and although he gave Derby some hope with a clever header with nine minutes to go, he could not rescue another comeback for his side.

Brighton’s day was soured, though, when Locadia hobbled off after appearing to injure his ankle when stumbling near the touchline.