It’s not been a bad season of cup football at The Amex in 2011-2012. Having hosted just two Premier League sides (Southampton in 2001 and Manchester City in 2008) at home since 1993, we’ve had the old London bus situation with three in six months. We’ve seen off Sunderland and fallen to eventual Carling Cup finalists Liverpool and now it’s the turn of our old mate Alan Pardew to bring his Newcastle United side on the long journey south courtesy of that penalty shoot out replay win over Wrexham. The Toon arrive flying high in the Premier League and with Gus Poyet’s men unbeaten since the turn of the year, the live audience across the world on ESPN should be in for a treat.

Who are Newcastle?
One of the biggest clubs in the country in terms of support. St Jame…the Sports Direct Arena dominates the city and it is a rare place in modern day footballing terms in that virtually everybody who lives there supports the local side. Their last major trophy came in 1955 with the FA Cup, although they have come perilously close since, being beaten finalists in the same competition in both 1998 and 1999, as well as semi-finalists in 2000 when a certain Mr Poyet scored both goals in a 2-1 win for Chelsea. Most famous perhaps came in the 1995-96 season when they lead Manchester United by 12 points but ended up being runners up by the end, a run which saw King Kev suffer his brilliant “I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE BEAT THEM” meltdown live on Sky. Hard times have followed recently with Mike Ashley proving that you should never trust a man who can neck a pint in under ten seconds as relegation to the Championship after the appointment of another ranting manager in Joe Kinnear (unfortunately we can’t print his because of the colourful language) followed. They bounced back at the first attempt and have enjoyed a fairtytale season so far after selling three of their best players in Andy Carroll, Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan, currently sitting sixth in the Premier League table with serious designs on Europe.

Their history with Brighton?
As you can imagine for a club that has spent all of it’s existence in the top two divisions and is pretty much based in the arctic circle, we haven’t come across each other too many times in the past. There were joyous celebrations at St James Park (as it was known then) when the Albion secured a 3-1 win on the last day of the season to secure their first and only promotion to the top flight - which meant that Newcastle’s arch rivals Sunderland were denied promotion. The two sides also faced each other during Albion’s FA Cup Run in 1983 - and we all know how that ended!

Last time we met?
Jake Forster-Caskey was still two years away from being born when Barry Lloyd’s Brighton side secured a 1-0 win away from home against Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle in a second tier game back in March 1992. The two sides had drawn 2-2 at The Goldstone two weeks before Christmas earlier in the season which ultimately saw the Albion relegated. The Toon last defeated us in March 1990 with a 2-0 win on Tyneside and their last victory in Good Old Sussex by the Sea came with a 3-0 success on October 21st 1989.

Who has played for both?

We might be able to add Lewis Dunk to this list by the end of the month if rumours are (or were before certain events) to be believed. Kazenga LuaLua will be hoping to be match fit to face his former side and show Alan Pardew just what he is missing while Steve Harper had a decent loan spell with us earlier in the season, steadying the ship after a difficult September and early October. Newcastle are yet another club with whom we can mention Ian Baird in connection with while the original Vicente in Paul Kitson spent time on Tyneside before his arrival at Withdean and permanent transfer to the treatment room.

Who to look out for?
Demba Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa has been one of the massive success stories of the season following his free transfer from West Ham and sits second in the Premier League top scorers list on 15 goals. Unfortunately for fans of flair football but probably fortunately for the Albion defence, he is currently being knocked out of the African Cup of Nations with Senegal as is the Toon’s latest signing Pappis Cisse. Tim Krul is fast establishing himself as one of the top keepers in the Premier League while it will be a joy to see Fabricio Coloccini’s flowing hair performing at The Amex if he is fit. Shola Ameobi is one of those cult figures everyone wants to see and Yohan Cabaye has been deeply impressive since his move from Lille in the summer.

Prediction?
We would love a replay and the chance to go to St James Pa….Sports Direct Arena on a cold Tuesday night under the lights is really what the magic of the FA Cup is all about. With Manchester City out and one of Manchester United and Liverpool set to follow, Newcastle must feel they have a chance of winning the FA Cup this season and ending that long wait for a trophy, so Alan Pardew would be mad to not go full strength. A 2-0 victory for the Toon beckons - but we won’t be disgraced