NEWCASTLE UNITED'S dreams of an FA Cup run were brought to an end with defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Will Buckley's 76th minute deflected goal deflated Alan Pardew's side, who were largely kept quiet by Gus Poyet's organised and efficient Seagulls.

The Magpies emulated their North-Eastern neighbours Sunderland at the American Express Community Stadium in defeat, with Brighton dumping the Black Cats out of the Carling Cup in August.

And like Sunderland, Newcastle could not get into gear against Brighton, who were dangerous on the break and more fluid going forward.

Danny Simpson came up with the Magpies' sole effort in a turgid first half of football, when he exchanged passes with Hatem Ben Arfa and shot, only for his goalbound effort to be cut out by Seagulls midfielder Liam Bridcutt.

Brighton had similarly few chances, and Craig Mackail-Smith perhaps should have done better with his opportunity on 31 minutes when he was found unmarked by Ashley Barnes on the edge of the penalty area.

The game did warm up somewhat in the second half, Leon Best going close when Peter Brezovan saved the Irishman's low shot on 52 minutes. Shola Ameobi saw his own shot deflected out from the resultant corner.

But Brighton were always dangerous on the break despite Newcastle's dominant possession, and the tricky Mackail-Smith did well to wriggle clear of his marker and fire towards goal, only to be denied by Krul on 70 minutes.

It was to prove a warning sign, as six minutes later, the Seagulls were in the lead when Buckley, marauding down the left wing, jinked into the box and saw his tame shot deflected past Krul by Newcastle centre-half Mike Williamson.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-3-3): Brezovan; Calderon, Dunk, Greer, El Abd; Sparrow (Navarro 46), Forster-Caskey (Harley 65), Bridcutt; Buckley, Mackail-Smith (Hoskins 90), Barnes. Subs: Ankergren (gk), Vincelot, Agdestein, Hall.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Krul; Simpson, Perch, Williamson, Santon (Ferguson 83); Cabaye, Guthrie (Gosling 83); Ben Arfa (Taylor 83), Gutierrez, Best; Ameobi. Subs not used: Elliot (gk), Lovenkrands, Obertan, Kadar.

Referee: Lee Probert

Attendance: 21,558