Why Newport FA Cup tie can help Brighton and Alexis Mac Allister in particular

Graham Potter’s Seagulls travel to south Wales on the back of an eight-game winless run in the league but should use the opportunity against their League Two opposition to turn the tide against their bad run of results.

Picking up a winning habit regardless of the competition is the perfect antidote to a slump in form, and it’s no secret that the Seagulls are in need of a fortune changing elixir. Lower league opposition hands Albion the best possible chance of forming a run of consecutive results as it’s a game they’re expected to win.

However, there are no guarantees in the FA Cup as there’s always at least one ‘shock’ per matchday. In some aspects, their tie with the Exiles could be viewed as a ‘lose, lose’ situation as Brighton are undoubtedly favourites to win the fixture. If County pull off an FA Cup scalp, then more pressure and embarrassment will be heaped on Potter.

A victory does need to come from somewhere, however, and there will be no better opportunity to gain it than this weekend. Examine Chris Hughton’s 2019 semi-final run, for example, the squad that faced Manchester City at Wembley found themselves in a similar position to that of his successor’s this season.

Hughton’s side only faced Premier League opposition once on their way to the home of football but inhabited a winning feeling that saw them survive the drop, albeit by two points.

Those two points were obtained in difficult games against Newcastle United, followed immediately by a well-earned point at the Emirates Stadium. For clubs that won’t challenge for Europe, a cup run can immediately lift the atmosphere in the camp and from the fans, while creating lasting memories.

The FA Cup revels in dramatic storylines that give matches that seem to have no spark, some added spice. With the Seagull’s travelling to Rodney Parade, the third round fixture is notable for Ben White who is returning to the club where he spent the entirety of the 2017/18 campaign on loan.

The impressive versatile defender made a lasting impression in Wales, with County boss Michael Flynn describing White as “the best loan signing the club has ever made” to a local publication.

Newport County are no stranger to FA Cup shocks, and White played his part in the club’s impressive 2018 run. The now 23-year-old played the entirety of the club’s 2-1 victory over Leeds United, which set-up a mouth-watering tie with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Exiles then recorded an impressive 1-1 draw against Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs, before losing the replay at Wembley. Despite the defeat, White was praised for his ability to mark England captain, Harry Kane.

With a busy fixture schedule coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, Potter is set to rotate this weekend. The former Swansea City manager can use this to his advantage as those who have yet to impress this season are given another chance to stake their claim for league appearances.

Alexis Mac Allister is a prime example of this. Across the Seagulls’s Carabao Cup fixtures earlier in the campaign, the Argentine scored in consecutive victories against Portsmouth and Preston North End before netting a crucial equaliser in the league against Crystal Palace.

A mixture of injuries and a reported positive COVID-19 test has hampered his progression in the team since, but he alongside many others will need to take this chance if they are to feature in the Premier League.

The stick often used to beat the FA Cup is that it adds fixture to an already busy schedule. However, excluding replays, it has been used to extend the season as most matches are played on the weekends in place of league fixtures.

It adds opportunity rather than hampers them, and the Seagull’s need to take it seriously if they are to beat the drop in the Premier League.