Seagulls upset Magpies

Brighton repeated last season's FA Cup heroics by dumping an under-strength Newcastle out of the competition with a 2-0 victory after Andrea Orlandi supplied an outstanding opener at Amex Stadium.

The first-half strike was born out of Wayne Bridge's willingness to chase a seemingly lost cause, but it was Orlandi's exquisite touch, turn and shot that stole the show. The Spanish playmaker was applauded by Brighton and Newcastle fans alike as he departed with half an hour to go having scored a goal that required repeat viewings to appreciate its brilliance.

The second was delivered by substitute Will Hoskins, who tucked home David Lopez's defence-splitting pass, as the npower Championship play-off hopefuls completed a comfortable win.

Newcastle were further frustrated by captain Shola Ameobi's second-half sending off. Ameobi was deeply unlucky to receive the second yellow from referee Lee Probert and will miss Saturday's match against Norwich.

From the start it was clear the Seagulls sensed an upset was on the cards when Dean Hammond fired a shot over the crossbar. Lopez then showed superb control to keep in a long pass before crossing to the far post. Gary Dicker was on hand to head the ball towards goal, but James Perch was able to clear and moments later Probert ignored a penalty claim from Orlandi.

It was all Brighton as Magpies keeper Rob Elliot, making only his fifth appearances of the season, plucked a powerful shot from Lopez out of the air.

The match drifted into an uneventful period that was only broken when Orlandi fired Brighton ahead with a tremendous goal. The sprinting Bridge skilfully collected a long pass from Gordon Greer and picked out Orlandi who took one touch with his left foot, turned and steered the ball into net with the outside of the same boot.

Newcastle replaced Mehdi Abeid and Perch with Paul Dummett and Nile Ranger for the second half in an attempt by manager Alan Pardew to wake his side form their lethargy - but Brighton still looked comfortable.

Little was going right for Newcastle and the dismissal of Ameobi for his second yellow card - given by Probert for an innocuous contact with Dicker - left them a man down for the last half hour.

Newcastle were pressing hard for an equaliser, but they appeared to have run out of ideas as the final 10 minutes beckoned. Instead, the second goal was delivered by Brighton with Lopez putting Hoskins one on one with Elliot and the substitute neatly tucked the ball home.