Brighton and Hove Albion ended their eight match winless run with a win at Norwich City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
The youngest manager in the Premier League, Fabian Hurzeler, started his first season with the Seagulls well, as the club started the 2024/25 campaign 7 matches undefeated. The Seagulls hit a rough patch of form in late November 2024, with the depth of the team being tested due to multiple injuries. James Milner, Ferdi Kadioglu, Joel Veltman, Brajan Gruda, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Jack Hinshelwood, Solly March, Danny Welbeck, and Mats Wieffer all missed significant time in the last few months for Brighton.
After a 1-1 draw to start the 2025 calendar year against Premier League title contenders Arsenal at the AMEX, Brighton finally earned a winning result, dominating Championship side Norwich City at Carrow Road in the third round of the FA Cup, winning 4-0.
Former Leeds forward Georginio Rutter scored a brace for the Seagulls in the first half, scoring a header off a Joel Veltman cross in the 38th minute before doubling the Brighton lead by finishing off a chance created by Yankuba Minteh in first half stoppage time. Julio Enciso scored the third goal for Brighton in the 60th minute, dispossessing Jack Stacey and converting from a tight angle, before fan-favorite Solly March scored his first goal for Brighton since August 19, 2023, when he recorded a brace against Wolves.
Brighton and Hove Albion now advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup, a competition they made the semifinal of back in the 2023 season. The Seagulls now go on the road to face Ipswich Town at Portman Road midweek on Thursday before playing Manchester United at Old Trafford on the weekend.
Norwich City vs Brighton and Hove Albion FA Cup Scoring Summary:
Georginio Rutter 38′, 45’+2′
Julio Enciso 60′
Solly March 74′
Stats (Norwich City vs Brighton and Hove Albion FA Cup):
Possession (%): 48/52
Expected Goals (xG): 0.22/2.13
Shots (On Target): 6(1)/21(8)
Corners: 3/4
Norwich City Starting XI:
(4-3-3): 12 Long; 14 Chrisene (4 Duffy 79′), 6 Doyle (40 Hills 46′), 33 Cordoba, 3 Stacey; 18 Amankwah (35 Fisher 46′), 23 McLean, 26 Nunez (25 Hernandez 61′); 22 Dobbin, 17 Crnac (9 Sargent 79′), 29 Schwartau.
Brighton and Hove Albion Starting XI:
(4-2-3-1): 23 Steele; 30 Estupinan, 4 Webster (44 McConville 71′), 29 van Hecke, 34 Veltman (15 Moder 79′); 26 Ayari, 20 Baleba; 22 Mitoma, 10 Enciso (8 Gruda 63′), 17 Minteh (7 March 71′), 14 Rutter (18 Welbeck 63′).