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Adam Reach struck a second-half winner as Sheffield Wednesday beat Premier League opposition in the FA Cup for the first time in 27 years.
The Wednesday winger smashed a drive from the edge of the box that was deflected in 25 minutes from time to earn the Championship side a place in the fourth round.
Wednesday’s previous win over top-flight opposition in this competition came courtesy of goals from Chris Waddle and Mark Bright at Wembley in the 1993 semi-final against their city rivals Sheffield United.
“It was a very good, professional performance,” said the Wednesday manager, Gary Monk. “We’ve had a tough time this last week with three defeats and I wanted to see a response and got one.
“Brighton are a Premier League club, they went with a strong team and that makes the win all the more impressive. I thought we played well all over the field, with some outstanding individual performances.”
Brighton, last season’s semi-finalists, could have few complaints about the result as they rarely threatened to force a replay at Hillsborough and were jeered by sections of the home support at the end.
“I don’t like to throw anybody under the bus, that’s not what I’m about,” said their manager, Graham Potter. “As a collective we weren’t good enough.”
Potter made seven changes but Alireza Jahanbakhsh had to be content with a place on the bench again despite his stunning acrobatic equaliser as a substitute against Chelsea on New Year’s Day, while Glenn Murray was left out the squad with rumours swirling of a January transfer.
Neil Maupay was the hosts’ biggest threat in an uninspiring opening period. The Frenchman’s low shot was repelled by the legs of Cameron Dawson, having earlier rounded the onrushing Owls goalkeeper before seeing his path to goal blocked by the imposing figure of Dominic Iorfa.
Wednesday – who made six changes including a senior debut for 19-year-old Osaze Urhoghide at right-back – came into the match on the back of three successive defeats during the festive period that have dented their play-off aspirations.
The stand-in Wednesday captain, Steven Fletcher, almost put the visitors ahead just before the break, dispossessing Dale Stephens following a risky short goal-kick from David Button, only to see the keeper make amends by tipping over his powerful strike.
Wednesday were dealt a major blow 10 minutes into the second half when Fletcher was taken off on a stretcher. The Scotland international looked in considerable discomfort after staying down following a innocuous challenge from Gaëtan Bong.
They soon shrugged off that significant setback to edge ahead 10 minutes later. Massimo Luongo, who wasted a chance moments earlier, was fouled by Steven Alzate on the edge of the box and Reach drilled home from the resultant free-kick via a heavy deflection after the ball was touched to him by the substitute Sam Winnall.
Brighton – who were victorious in the previous FA Cup tie between the clubs, winning 2-1 at Highbury to reach the 1983 final – threw on Jahanbakhsh, their man of the moment following two goals in two games, in the hope of finding an equaliser.
The Iran forward attempted a repeat of his memorable overhead kick goal against Chelsea but completely missed the ball from a Pascal Gross corner.
An onslaught from the hosts failed to materialise and the away side hung on to their advantage to the delight of 2,200 travelling fans.
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