From zero home goals for three months to nine in two away games

The FA Cup draw gave Brighton the longest trip of the third round, a five hour and 20 minute drive to Midlesbrough according to Google.

It was reported that those who made the journey earned a whole five loyalty points for their trouble! At least there were plenty of car parks around the Riverside Stadium; five I counted when looking on Google Maps.

As well as parking spaces, the stadium is located right next to the River Tees. The Tees leads into the North Sea, pointing the way towards Europe. Now that is a positive sign at the start of the Albion’s FA Cup adventure, don’t you think?

Brighton had last visited Middlesbrough five years ago, winning 2-1 in the fourth round of the same competition.

Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall seemed happy to be back on Teesside and they once again provided amazing commentary for those of us back in Sussex.

They reported that Brighton had taken total control from the start. That led to an eighth minute lead when the Albion’s captain Pascal Gross scored.

Pervis Estupinan and Adam Lallana worked down the left and into the middle to find Evan Ferguson. He flicked onto an incoming Solly March running through the centre to bear down on Middlesbrough goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Steffen made himself as big as he could and managed to deflect March’s shot away… right into the path of Gross who made no mistake in slotting home.

Lallana had a shot himself saved by Steffen, after which it was the Albion’s turn to make a mistake. Levi Colwill lost possession on halfway with Boro making the most of the opportunity.

Ryan Giles delivered a great cross from the right onto the head of Chuba Akpom. Jason Steele gets a hand to the ball but it managed to just about trickle over the line and in.

Colwill shouldered the blame but like many of this Brighton team, he is young and learning. As was said in a post-match interview, the slightest of mistakes at this level of football and your opposition will score.

Watching back the highlights and Steele did not look best pleased with his own efforts in keeping the header out, either.

Next came a long ball up the pitch from Steffen headed on by Matt Crooks. It fell to Riley McGree to hit a powerful shot which Steele was just able to tip over the bar. A great save from Steele which must have made up for any disappointment he felt about the goal.

Brighton went back on the attack and Kaoru Mitoma went down under very little contact from Tommy Smith on the edge of the Boro penalty area.

Referee Simon Hooper thought about it for a second or two and then awarded a soft free kick. Gross delivered and Steffen was not convincing with his punch going straight up into the air. Middlesbrough managed to survive.

Moises Caicedo had to intercept a Boro break to help Albion regain possession. Brighton began to sound more confident and in the 29th minute, regained the lead.

March played a good cross in from the right which Mitoma met with a volley into the ground. The ball bounced over Steffen and Lallana was on hand to head in.

Had Lallana not made contact, then Evan Ferguson was also lurking in the right place at the right time as all good strikers do.

Half time arrived and Warren suggested that Brighton’s play had been something on the slow side. Things seemed certain to quicken up when we were treated to the appearance of Alexis Mac Allister in place of Lallana, something we discovered after the game had been planned to take place.

BBC Radio Sussex said that the Albion needed more intensity in the second half. And that is what we got right from the start, beginning with March having a header denied by Steffen.

Our World Cup hero did not take long to get involved. A drilled ball from Estupinan was diverted in with initial reports saying it had been a deflection off Mac Allister.

A closer look revealed that it was no deflection. Mac Allister had produced an intentional back heel flick to beat Steffen and make it 3-1. A great touch and a class goal from a class player.

Roberto De Zerbi made further changes, swapping Danny Weleck and Julio Enciso on for Ferguson and Mitoma. We later had the return of trusted defender Adam Webster, who replaced Colwill. Lewis Dunk enjoyed an afternoon off as he was rested ahead of a huge Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Mac Allister came close to his second of the game with a free kick just off target. Caicedo had earned the foul about 25 yards out but distance does not seem to matter to Mac Allister, who as we are getting to know is very dangerous from set pieces.

Having missed that free kick, Mac Allister did manage to complete a brace in the 80th minute when confidently putting away a Gross cross. That had me out of my seat and bashing those settee springs again.

A fifth and final Brighton goal arrived late on from Deniz Undav. It was great to see him on the pitch and scoring after being absent due to some personal issues in recent weeks. I am sure we all wish him well.

Even with a full time score of Middlesbrough 1-5 Brighton, there was a lot of talk over how the Albion can improve after the game.

Johnny and Warren spoke about how the younger players should perhaps not always go for glory themselves but look for a teammate better positioned. This was put down to the exuberance of youth with many of them still learning.

My biggest takeaway was that we had just seen Brighton score nine goals in two away games four days apart. It was not that ago that we went three months without seeing an Albion goal at the Amex. The football since the return from the winter break has sure been enjoyable.

Having supported Brighton now for some 57 years, this is hands down one of the finest periods I can ever remember to be an Albion fan.

It is Liverpool or Wolves next in the FA Cup and Brighton should fear neither. The same goes for the next Premier League game against the Reds.

Let us hope the good work and the goal scoring continues. Up the Albion!

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony