Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Third Round Proper
12.30pm, Saturday 5 January 2013
The Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion
Live on ITV1
Winning club receives £67,500 from The FA's prize fund
Click here for fixtures
By Nicholas Veevers

Brighton boss Gus Poyet is hoping his FA Cup record against Newcastle United can continue on Saturday in the weekend's first tie.

The Uruguayan led his side to a Fourth Round victory over the Magpies last season and was also a thorn in their side during his playing days with Chelsea and Spurs.

He scored two goals against them for Chelsea in the Semi-Final of 2000 at Wembley, before helping the Blues to win The Cup against Aston Villa a few months later.

And now Poyet’s Championship high-fliers take on Newcastle at the Amex Stadium for a place in the Fourth Round.

He exclusively told FATV: "First and most, they are a fantastic club and every time I've played against them, especially in the north-east, the atmosphere is unbelievable.

"I was lucky enough to have the chance to score a few goals against them so my relationship with the Newcastle fans is probably a little bit of hate from them, but I'm sure that they like me as well.

"When you play against a team and you do so well, there are a few who probably like you, or they would like you to play for them!”

Poyet also believes The FA Cup is best cup competition in the world, so wants his side to progress as far as possible.

After a career with clubs in Uruguay, Spain and England, he’s experienced numerous football competitions but admits winning The Cup with Chelsea stands out.

"When you are a foreigner watching English football and you see that red carpet and the managers with the big flower, any player who comes to England is thinking that if they’re lucky enough, they will be able to play once in The FA Cup Final,” he added.

"So to be able to play in one and win it is even better.

"I say this coming from Uruguay, where there is no cup and from Spain where there is the Copa Del Rey, but The FA Cup is the greatest cup in the world.”

Last season’s tie between the clubs saw a narrow victory for Brighton thanks to a Mike Williamson own goal, so Alan Pardew’s side will want to avenge that.

And Poyet admits that another match against Newcastle wasn’t exactly the tie that he was looking for in December's Third Round draw.

He added: "When you are not in the Premier League, you want to play against every single one of them, but at different times.

"But it's going to be difficult and I'm sure the Newcastle players will want to come here and show they are better than us, because they are better than us.”

Watch the full and exclusive interview with Poyet in the Media Gallery above, in which he also talks about his management career and his FA Cup memories with Chelsea.