Football
2018-19 English FA Cup, 5th Round
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Reuters 5y

Ashley Cole scores first FA Cup goal but Derby exit at Brighton and Hove Albion

Former Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole scored his first-ever goal in the FA Cup, but it was not enough for Championship-side Derby County as they were beaten 2-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion in the fifth round on Saturday.

Substitute Cole, who had not scored in English football since 2012, struck late after Premier League Brighton had taken the lead thanks to first-half goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia.

The veteran left-back joined Derby, managed by his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard, in January having left LA Galaxy last year.

Despite the 38-year-old Cole's late effort, Brighton hung on to take their place in the quarter-finals.

"I am pleased for him. He has been working hard for his fitness and we gave him 45 minutes," Lampard said.

"It was not the perfect circumstances but it turned out good for him. He looked calm and the class was evident."

Brighton manager Chris Hughton made eight changes to his lineup with his priority being to make sure his side avoid being sucked into the relegation battle after winning only one of their last 11 Premier League games.

But they still had enough to see off a disappointing Derby side who only came to life in the second half.

"You can always dream," said Hughton, an FA Cup winner as a player with Tottenham Hotspur. "The reality is it is normally one of the top six that wins the competition; for the likes of ourselves it is about going as far as we can.

"To get to the quarterfinals is a big thing for the club."

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