HULL CITY SET up a quarter-final meeting with Sunderland in the FA Cup by beating Brighton and Hove Albion in a fifth-round replay.
After drawing the first game 1-1, Hull never appeared in any real danger of losing the replay on Monday as they dominated for large periods against their Championship opponents.
Curtis Davies’ looping header gave Steve Bruce’s side an early lead, and Robert Koren doubled the advantage with nine minutes of the first half to play. Leonard Ulloa pulled a goal back for Brighton in the 69th minute, scoring his fifth goal in as many games in all competitions.
An improving Brighton pushed for an equaliser to take the game to extra-time but Hull were able to hold on and Bruce will welcome one of his former clubs to the KC Stadium in the next round.
In the night’s other FA Cup tie, Simon Church’s goal denied Sheffield Wednesday a quarter-final meeting with Sheffield United as Charlton Athletic won 2-1 at Hillsborough.
There had been much talk of the possibility of a Steel City derby in the build-up to Monday’s fifth-round clash – rescheduled due to a waterlogged pitch – but Church’s second-half header dashed Wednesday’s hopes as Charlton reached the last eight of the competition for the first time in eight years.
Callum Harriott had put the visitors ahead midway through the first half with a sweetly-struck effort from just inside the area as Wednesday looked edgy in front of their home fans. Wednesday improved in the second half in the all-Championship tie,
Leon Best firing home as Charlton failed to deal with a free-kick in the 57th minute, but parity lasted just eight minutes as Church got on the end of Johnnie Jackson’s set-piece to head home and put his side within 90 minutes of a Wembley appearance.
