Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton & Hove Albion: Joao Pedro hat-trick puts Seagulls into fifth round

In-form striker Joao Pedro hit a hat-trick to help Brighton knock struggling Sheffield United out of the FA Cup.

Brighton lead through Facundo Buonanotte's brilliant opener before the first of Pedro's spot-kicks.

The Blades levelled before the break through Gustavo Hamer and William Osula, but Pedro and a late goal from Danny Welbeck clinched it for Brighton.

Pedro, who signed for £30m from Watford last summer, now has 18 goals in all competitions for Brighton this season, including five in two FA Cup ties.

• Relive all Saturday's FA Cup action and reaction

But for United, at the foot of the Premier League table, it was ultimately another dispiriting result after they had fought back so well late in the first half.

Brighton have reasons to be excited

The season just keeps getting better for Pedro, the 22-year-old forward that manager Roberto de Zerbi admitted he knew nothing about when he joined after two and a half years with Watford.

He has now scored 10 times from the penalty spot this season - more than anyone in the top five leagues in Europe - and showed a cool head when facing United debutant Ivo Grbic from 12 yards at Bramall Lane.

Pedro sent the Croatian, recently signed from Atletico Madrid, the wrong way on each occasion when opting to go first to his right and then to his left.

And his hat-trick was clinched when he took just enough time to control a pass from James McAtee on the edge of the area before shooting low past Grbic into the bottom corner.

Brighton were untroubled after they had gone back into a two-goal lead and Welbeck underlined their dominance when he shot underneath Grbic from a tight angle deep into stoppage time at the end of the match.

Seventh in the Premier League with more FA Cup and Europa League ties to follow, Brighton seem to have a lot to be excited about in the second half of the season.

Blades collapse after hopeful start

United had looked a long way off the pace until two goals at the end of the first half brought them right back into the tie.

Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen could only parry Osula's low cross back out to Hamer, who made no mistake at the first time of asking, only to then have to wait for video assistant referee (VAR) to confirm the goal after a check for offside.

Osula, who had been the Blades' liveliest player, then drew the home side level when he headed Jayden Bogle's cross home, with the goal confirmed after another VAR check.

But Bogle's handball when challenging Evan Ferguson in the air gave Pedro the chance to put the visitors ahead again and once he had done so in clinical fashion, Chris Wilder's side looked like the ones who had been second best for much of the first half aside from a chance for a late consolation when McAtee's shot hit the underside of the bar but did not cross the goal line.

Their focus must now shift to Premier League survival. In two of their next three outings, they face fellow strugglers, with a trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) and to Luton on 10 February, with Aston Villa visiting in between (17:30).

Post-match reaction

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder speaking to BBC Sport: "It is what it is, they're through to the next round and we're not.

"We understand the qualities that the manager and the players bring to Brighton. They're a real good footballing side and better teams than us have struggled with the way they play - but for me, looking inwards at our game, some poor goals.

"I know the boy [Facundo Buonanotte] scored a goal with his leg peg and it's gone in the top corner but [there were] some real poor goals from our point of view. [I'm] delighted that we gave everything as we always do, delighted that we got ourselves back into the game just before half-time then looking forward to a really positive second half - but then the goal has obviously really knocked us back again."

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi speaking to BBC Sport: "Today we scored five goals and we are happy for it but we are sad for the two goals we conceded. We can improve in the situation we conceded the goals.

"It's too early to speak about trophies for sure. We have the right attitude, we have the behaviour to keep this level. I don't know if we will win something this season but I know we will fight and do our best in all competitions."