Exclusive: Gomez escaped as Anthony Taylor didn’t want 3rd Brighton v Newcastle red
Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez was fortunate that Anthony Taylor did not show him a yellow card in the final moments against Newcastle, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Paraguayan midfielder was lucky Taylor had been trying to “keep his cards in his pocket” after sending off a player for each side.
Liverpool target Alexander Isak opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, following a foul from Yankuba Minteh on Tino Livramento.
Minteh would atone for his mistakes in the 44th minute by scoring against his former club, after being played through on goal by Joao Pedro.
Whilst the second half was goalless, it was certainly not short of action, with Anthony Gordon being sent off for a shove on Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tariq Lamptey was also shown a red card, with Taylor showing a second yellow to the former Chelsea fullback on the stroke of full-time.
Additionally, Carlos Baleba could have been sent off for Brighton, after dragging back Livramento as the Magpies looked to launch a counter-attack.
Diego Gomez avoids costly yellow card for Brighton
With the game nearing its end, and the score tied up at 1-1, Gomez threw himself into a reckless challenge, but was only given a talking to by Taylor.
The referee appeared to be keen to avoid showing more cards, following two reds in the closing stages.
This decision seemed relatively innocuous in the moment, but in the first half of extra-time Gomez was shown a yellow for a silly foul, and had he been cautioned initially by Taylor, the Paraguayan would have indeed been shown the game’s third red card.
| 2024/25 FA Cup quarter-final draw |
| Bournemouth vs Man City |
| Brighton vs Nottingham Forest/Ipswich Town |
| Fulham vs Crystal Palace |
| Preston North End vs Aston Villa |
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-PGMOL chief, Hackett, gave his verdict on the foul:
“In the final minutes, Brighton’s number 25 [Diego Gomez], was rather fortunate to not receive a yellow card for a reckless challenge.
“Referee Taylor, having sent two players off, was now trying to keep his cards in his pocket.”
Brighton will now await the winner of the match between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town to find out their quarter-final opponents.
Brighton beat Newcastle as good form continues
Following a disastrous and humiliating 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Brighton have responded with five wins in-a-row in all competitions.
Their opponents have been Chelsea (twice), Southampton, Bournemouth and Newcastle, with Fabian Hurzeler’s team only conceding three goals in that run.
The Seagulls will fancy their chances of a first ever FA Cup win, with only Bournemouth, Man City, and Nottingham Forest the only teams above them in the league still left in the competition.