Match ends, Port Vale 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 3.
Port ValePort Vale1BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion3
![Andrea Orlandi [left] of Brighton & Hove Albion tackles Jack Grimmer of Port Vale](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/mcs/media/images/72523000/jpg/_72523254_464994311.jpg)
Championship side Brighton eased into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the third time in four seasons with a professional victory over League One promotion-hopefuls Port Vale.
Rohan Ince's hooked finish put the visitors ahead but Chris Robertson headed in from six yards to level.
An attempted Solly March cross restored Brighton's lead before the break.
And Jonathan Obika ran through to round goalkeeper Chris Neal and seal the win with 12 minutes remaining.
The victory was thoroughly deserved, despite the Seagulls opting to field a much-changed side in rainy conditions that seemed ideal for a Cup shock.
March's lucky strike seemed to end the home side's hopes and Brighton were barely troubled after the interval.
The visitors started strongly with Lewis Dunk shooting narrowly wide after a purposeful run and March testing Neal with a fierce strike.
Brighton were dominating possession and deservedly took the lead in the 27th minute when Ince coolly shot home when a clever corner routine allowed him to find space in the box.
Vale responded after 11-goal striker Tom Pope narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a teasing cross as Robertson headed in from close range.
There was still time for the Seagulls to regain the lead before the interval and, although it was arguably deserved, they got lucky with the equaliser.
March tried to send in a cross but miscued his attempted centre and the ball floated into the top corner.
Brighton had several chances to make the game safe after the half-time break.
March tested Neal with a decent strike seconds into the second half and the home keeper then made a superb save from Jake Caskey's dipping long-range effort.
Neal also made a brilliant diving stop to deny Kemy Agustien, tipping the midfielder's fizzing low strike onto the post.
Doug Loft did have a decent strike that went just wide for Vale, but Obika added a third for the Seagulls when he calmly beat Neal and tapped the ball into an empty net.
Inigo Calderon was forced to clear off the line after a goalmouth scrambled but apart from that one scare, Brighton eased home to take their place in Sunday's fifth-round draw.
Brighton assistant head coach Nathan Jones told BBC Sussex:
"We are very pleased with the attitude and very pleased with the performance more than anything.
"It was a monsoon when we started warming up and we thought it would affect the pitch and the downpours would put the game into jeopardy. It was difficult but it made for a good cup tie.
"We believe in the players we have and they're in the squad for a reason. We are proud of our youngsters and all of them scored today and that's very pleasing."
Port Vale manager Micky Adams:
"Brighton showed their quality and adapted to the game well, but conceding two goals from set-pieces has cost us dear.
"I'm particularly proud of my players because they gave everything they had didn't give up at any stage.
"It was a very good cup tie in difficult conditions, but we've just come up short against a very good side.
"The FA Cup doesn't owe us anything because this is the first time this club has got to the fourth round for eight seasons."
Line-ups
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Neal
- 20GrimmerBooked at 90mins
- 14TaylorSubstituted forYatesat 45'minutes
- 18Lines
- 4Robertson
- 17Davis
- 9Myrie-WilliamsBooked at 47minsSubstituted forWilliamsonat 66'minutes
- 21Griffith
- 10TomlinSubstituted forHugillat 75'minutes
- 11Pope
- 7Loft
Substitutes
- 2Yates
- 8Dodds
- 12Johnson
- 15Shuker
- 19Williamson
- 26Birchall
- 39Hugill
Brighton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Brezovan
- 14Calderón
- 15Chicksen
- 38InceBooked at 16mins
- 5DunkBooked at 65mins
- 20Upson
- 27MarchSubstituted forLua Luaat 81'minutes
- 18Forster-Caskey
- 22ObikaBooked at 28mins
- 10AgustienSubstituted forAndrewsat 70'minutes
- 11OrlandiBooked at 23mins
Substitutes
- 2Bruno
- 3Greer
- 4Andrews
- 16Ankergren
- 17Ward
- 19Ulloa
- 25Lua Lua
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 7,293
Match Stats
Home TeamPort ValeAway TeamBrighton
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away8
- Corners
- Home8
- Away12
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Port Vale 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 3.
Booking
Jack Grimmer (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Jonathan Obika (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Grimmer (Port Vale).
Post update
Foul by Anthony Griffith (Port Vale).
Post update
Jonathan Obika (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Adam Chicksen.
Post update
Attempt missed. Keith Andrews (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Foul by Anthony Griffith (Port Vale).
Post update
Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Hand ball by Jordan Hugill (Port Vale).
Substitution
Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Kazenga Lua Lua replaces Solly March.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Íñigo Calderón.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Íñigo Calderón.
Goal!
Goal! Port Vale 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 3. Jonathan Obika (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Rohan Ince.
Post update
Jack Grimmer (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jonathan Obika (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Jordan Hugill replaces Gavin Tomlin.
