Our Road to Wembley feature appears to be a good luck charm for the underdogs as Brighton made it through.
We continue to follow Brighton as they knock out Portsmouth
Our Road to Wembley feature appears to be something of a good luck charm for the underdogs.
So far we have seen FC United knock out Rochdale, now we have followed Brighton as they dispatched of 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth.
The reaction from Brighton's memorable 3-1 win is very much centred around the early dismissal of Dave Kitson.
Kitson inexplicable elbow on Adam El-Abd saw him pick up a straight red card and the Seagulls - top of League One - took full advantage.
Brighton boss Gus Poyet had little doubt that Kitson deserved to receive his marching orders.
"There is no doubt about it," said the Uruguayan.
"I saw it because it was one of the first set plays against us and we didn't know exactly which players were going up.
"The referee made a big decision early on and then after that their players made a few decisions and the referee had to react. It's too easy to blame the referee, but I'd love to play 10 v 11 every week.
"We hear people say it's difficult to play 11 against 10 but I would take playing against 10 every week."
Pompey boss Steve Cotterill was less convinced about the red card though: "All I saw was El-Abd going down holding his face and Kits said he pushed him in the chest.
"El-Abd's hugged him, gone back away from him, and Kits has pushed him away. Then he's gone back and hugged him again and Kits has pushed him away.
'I think he (El-Abd) has made a bit of a meal of it."
Convincing
Brighton though still had to beat what was in front of them and they did so in convincing fashion.
They were 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Chris Wood and an Ashley Barnes penalty.
Tom Kilbey pulled one back for Pompey before Fran Sandaza sealed the win.
"I think we started decent and organised against a quality team, especially on the ball," said Poyet.
"We started passing the ball well and created half chances and then, of course, the sending-off made things easier."
Poyet was pleased to see three of his strikers score, adding: "You go in the press and say you need a striker and everyone starts scoring.
"I'm going to keep saying it. I'm pleased for them."
Brighton have now got Watford in the fourth round, but Poyet is focused on their primary goal of getting out of League One.
"Right now, my dream is to get promotion. I'm not dreaming about the FA Cup final," he said.
We now continue on the Road to Wembley with Brighton as they prepare to face another Championship side Watford in the fourth round.
