Albion 2 Blackpool 1

Albion will happily take another slice of good luck when the more serious business returns to the Amex.

A fluke goal credited to Steven Alzate secured safe passage to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Nothing wrong with enjoying a bit of good fortune.

If you are old enough you will recall a goal not dissimilar actually winning the cup for Manchester United at Wembley back in the 1970s.

The quest for Albion will be to be clinical when more conventional chances come their way as Fulham visit in the Premier League.

Certainly more composed and accurate than they were in the latter stages of this cup tie.

The chance is there on Wednesday to open an eight-point lead over the bottom three.

By then, we will also know whether Albion can overhaul Newcastle, who play Leeds tomorrow.

Defeat at Aston Villa for Steve Bruce’s men in their league game in hand capped a reasonably satisfactory Saturday for the Seagulls.

Their own match was simply a case of cup job done, both in terms of going through and giving some players an outing.

Alzate was one of them and he went down as the matchwinner after Alexis Mac Allister’s shot from outside the box hit him on the back and wrong-footed keeper Chris Maxwell.

It was a scruffy goal in contrast to two absolute beauties in the first half.

Yves Bissouma fired home from 30 yards for the Seagulls and Gary Madine skilfully guided home a cross right on half-time to equalise. Albion had several chances to give the scoreline a more comfortable look late on and were wasteful.

Still, the rare sensation of winning at home will have been no bad thing.

Head coach Graham Potter said: “It’s the second half of the season, the players are in a good rhythm.

“We made six changes but still you’d expect a strong side.

“I’m pleased with the guys who came in.

“They got some more time, we got some more information about our squad and, in the end, it is a pleasing afternoon.

“We have gone through, won a game, could have won by more but it’s a professional, controlled performance.

“When it’s just one goal, especially in this competition, anything can happen.

“They don’t have to do too much to get an opportunity.

“A ball in the box, a set play or something.

“That’s the bit we are probably a little bit disappointed with.

“But that can happen. We just need to improve again for next time.”

The late flurry mainly involved the four subs – all of them senior figures - sent on by Potter to see the job through.

Leandro Trossard set up Neal Maupay, who lacked precision as he shot straight at Maxwell, and Pascal Gross, who did not get enough on his attempt to glance a shot inside the far post.

Solly March tried to bend one inside the far post but did not get enough curl on it.

And Davy Propper, who started the game, saw a header well saved.

So there was no big finish but Potter believes progress continues to be made since the turn of the year.

He said: “It’s nice to win at home, we were talking about that.

ALBION WOULD TAKE RUSK EXIT AS A COMPLIMENT

“We have started the year quite positively in terms of going through in the FA Cup, some good performances in the league and a victory (at Leeds).

“We need to take that forward.”

Which for now means versus Fulham, who made changes and were swept aside 3-0 in the FA Cup at home to Burnley yesterday.

Team selection, as often, will be fascinating Bissouma did not make his expected immediate return to the XI at Leeds after suspension ruled him out at Manchester City.

RYAN SAYS GOODBYE FOR NOW

He underlined his claim for a place versus the Cottagers and not just with the goal.

His two earlier sighters offered significantly less threat than, for example, an early Lewis Dunk header from a Mac Allister corner which dipped just over.

Or indeed a Luke Garbutt free-kick which Christian Walton kept out of the top corner on his long-awaited return to the Amex.

But Bissouma’s third attempt broke the deadlock as it flew in from long range.

Potter said: “We were getting a bit frustrated with him because he had a couple of shots before that which were sort of scuffed along the floor.

“When he shot, I was really close to getting frustrated with him again. Then you see it fly into the top corner and it’s hard to argue.

“He keeps telling me he has got that quality and ability to strike from distance.”

If he fancies a repeat, Wednesday’s six-pointer would be an ideal time.

Albion: Walton; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Veltman, Propper, Bissouma, Alzate (March 61); Tau (Maupay 61), Mac Allister (Trossard 61), Zeqiri (Gross 76). Subs Not Used: White, Moder, Sanchez, Sanders, Khadra.

Goals: Bissouma 27, Alzate 58.

Blackpool: Maxwell; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Thorniley (KaiKai 77), Husband; Garbutt, Virtue (Lubala 77), Williams, Robson; Madine (Sarkic 77), Yates (Simms 66). Subs Not Used: Howe, Fojticek, Apter, Mariette, Holmes.

Goal: Madine 45.

Ref: Darren England (South Yorkshire).