Preston cruise past Brighton

Brighton's Daniel Webb heads towards goal

Brighton 0-2 Preston
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Goals from Eric Skora and Jon Macken ensured Preston won their FA Cup match at Brighton and secured a fourth round tie with Sheffield United.

Brighton had only lost two of their previous 10 games but were outplayed for long periods by the visiting team.

French midfielder Skora drove Preston ahead on 16 minutes.

But three minutes later Bobby Zamora wasted a glorious opportunity to pull Albion level when he had a penalty superbly saved by keeper David Lucas.

Lucas dived full-length to his right to push Zamora's weakly-hit spot-kick round the post.

Skora hit the opener from close-range following a cross from the left by Rob Edwards.

And Macken sealed victory with a soft second on 63 minutes.

Stand-in goalkeeper Will Packham allowed Macken's speculative 25-yard effort to go straight through his hands and into the net.

Zamora, who had scored in each of his previous six home games, could not add to his tally of 19 as Everton boss Walter Smith, said to be lining up a bid for the striker, watched from the stands.

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Brighton: Packham, Watson, Mayo, Cullip, Morgan, Oatway (Jones 56), Brooker, Carpenter, Hart, Zamora, Webb (Steele 61).
Subs Not Used: Melton, Virgo, Pethick.

Booked: Watson.

Preston: Lucas, Alexander, Lucketti, Murdock, Edwards, McKenna, Anderson (Barry-Murphy 84), Skora, Keane, Healy (Robinson 90), Macken (Basham 78).
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, Eaton.

Booked: Healy, McKenna.

Att: 6,548

Ref: R Harris (Oxford).