Brighton survive dramatic night at Newport with penalty shootout victory

Newport 1-1 Brighton (Brighton win 4-3 on penalties): Goalkeeper Jason Steele was the hero, making four shootout saves to clinch a place in the fourth round

Jason Steele is congratulated by his Brighton teammates (Getty)

Brighton were taken the distance by a battling Newport County but survived the fright to progress to the FA Cup fourth round. Goalkeeper Jason Steele was Brighton’s hero, making four penalty saves to win the shootout 4-3, after a game which had finished 1-1 following 90 minutes and extra-time.

The tie looked set for extra-time before Solly March broke Newport hearts with a fine curling effort in the 90th minute to put Brighton ahead. However, Newport incredibly levelled with the final touch of the game as Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele failed to make any contact with a right-wing cross, which inadvertently hit defender Adam Webster's chest and rolled into the empty net.

In the shootout Steele produced stunning saves to deny Newport's first two spot-kicks by Josh Sheehan and Mickey Demetriou, with Pascal Gross scoring Brighton's opening penalty.

Newport keeper Tom King saved from Neal Maupay to keep the hosts in touch before Joss Labadie got them on the scoresheet, with Yves Bissouma hitting the woodwork to leave the scores at 1-1 after three penalties apiece. Ryan Taylor and Lewis Dunk traded penalties but Steele saved from Liam Shephard to hand Leandro Trossard the chance to win the tie for Brighton, only for King to save his effort with his feet.

Jamie Proctor and Davy Propper both netted before Scot Bennett was denied by Steele - his fourth stop of the shoot-out - as Webster redeemed himself by slotting home the winning spot-kick.