FAC: Brighton 3-1 Coventry

Jurgen Locadia celebrates scoring the opener for Brighton

Jurgen Locadia scored on his debut to help Brighton beat Coventry 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1986.

The Seagulls' club record-signing took just 15 minutes to break the deadlock on his first appearance since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January.

Connor Goldson headed in the second after 34 minutes and Leonardo Ulloa then scored his first goal for Brighton since May 2014 in the 61st minute.

 

Jonson Clarke-Harris pulled a goal back for the League Two side in the 77th minute but it was just a consolation as Brighton reached the last eight.

Coventry had twice beaten higher-league opposition already in the FA Cup this season, including Premier League side Stoke in the third round, but they were second best in the first half and Brighton took control of the game with two goals inside the opening 35 minutes.

 

Both sides hit the woodwork early on, with Locadia firing against the post on the turn and Clarke-Harris heading against the bar at the other end from a corner.

 

The deadlock was broken after 15 minutes as Locadia, whose debut had been delayed by a hamstring injury, swept home from Anthony Knockaert's cross. Locadia then spurned two good chances to add to his tally before Goldson headed in from a corner.

Josh Barrett shot narrowly wide in the 38th minute from a rare opening for Coventry, whose slim hopes of a comeback were dampened after half-time when Ulloa expertly headed in from Bruno's cross.

However, after hitting the post in the 63rd minute, Clarke-Harris grabbed a deserved consolation for the visitors with a brilliant first-time finish late in the game.

Substitute Sam Baldock struck the woodwork in the final minute as Brighton, who have only reached the FA Cup final once in their history, saw out the win.