Brighton give 10-man Newcastle FA Cup deja vu

LONDON (AFP) –

Newcastle United’s Sammy Ameobi (left) and Brighton & Hove Albion’s David Lopez at The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, southern England on January 5, 2013. Second-tier Brighton knocked Premier League Newcastle out of the FA Cup for the second year in succession.

The FA Cup third round began with an upset on Saturday as second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion eliminated Premier League Newcastle United for the second year in succession.

Victors against Alan Pardew’s side in the fourth round last season, 1983 finalists Brighton prevailed 2-0 at their AMEX Stadium courtesy of a neat 33rd-minute finish from Andrea Orlandi and a late Will Hoskins strike.

Newcastle, who sold striker Demba Ba to Chelsea this week, fielded a weakened team and saw captain Shola Ameobi sent off with half an hour to play after he received a second booking for a rather innocuous foul on David Lopez.

In one of four all-Premier League encounters in the third round, Manchester United visit West Ham United later on Saturday, while holders Chelsea are away to Southampton.

Premier League champions Manchester City, the 2011 cup winners, are at home to Watford of the second-division Championship.

The biggest disparity between teams in terms of league positions will be witnessed at the Riverside Stadium, where Championship side Middlesbrough host Hastings United of the seventh-tier Isthmian Premier Division.