Five Point Preview: Manchester United

Brighton & Hove Albion travel to Old Trafford on Saturday evening looking to advance to the semi-finals of the Emirates FA Cup.

Chris Hughton’s men have seen off Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Coventry City to reach the last eight of the competition, and we’ve picked out five things to keep in mind ahead of the televised contest on Saturday night in the north west.
 
MAKING HISTORY

The game against Jose Mourinho’s men will be the first time Albion will contest a last-eight tie in the competition since 1986, 32 years since they faced Southampton in the quarter-finals of the tournament.

It was the same year Diego Maradona captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Mexico, the United Kingdom and France announced plans to open the Channel Tunnel and Margaret Thatcher opened the M25 motorway.

LOOKING FOR A REACTION

Both teams come into Saturday’s game having suffered defeats in their previous outings.

Chris Hughton’s side fell to a first defeat in eight matches last weekend when they were beaten 2-0 by Everton at Goodison Park, whilst Manchester United suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Sevilla on Tuesday night - a result which saw them eliminated from this season’s Champions League.

PLAYING A PART

Albion’s route to the last eight has seen five different scorers across the three victories.

Dale Stephens and Glenn Murray both found the net in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium at the start of January, before the latter’s late goal against Middlesbrough was enough to seal a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium in the next round.

Against Coventry City at the Amex Stadium, goals from Jurgen Locadia, Connor Goldson and Leonardo Ulloa saw off the Sky Bet League Two outfit to set up this weekend’s tie.

THE REVERSE FIXTURE

The Seagulls visited Old Trafford in the Premier League at the end of November, and could rightly feel hard done by to come away on the end of a narrow 1-0 defeat.

Hughton’s side acquitted themselves well for the majority of the contest - and Mourinho cited the contest as one of the toughest his team had faced during the campaign up until that point.

Ashley Young’s heavily deflected effort from the edge of the box flew off Lewis Dunk and wrong-footed Maty Ryan in the visiting goal, and that was the difference between the two sides.

TOUGHEST CUP TEST SO FAR

The game against Manchester United provides the Seagulls with their highest ranked opponent in the competition so far this season - but the same can also be said for the hosts.

Mourinho’s side have beaten Derby County, Yeovil Town and Huddersfield Town to get to the last eight, and with the Terriers occupying 15th place in the top flight, it means Albion could be United's toughest test so far.