Brighton's 5-2 win at Sheffield United sets up return trip

This fun afternoon in the FA Cup just underlined that to an experienced, battle-hardened opposing manager.

The Seagulls were always positive, often scintillating and occasionally vulnerable as they ran away with the fourth-round tie.

Joao Pedro completed his first hat-trick in England to add to a stunner from Facundo Buonanotte, then Danny Welbeck did what he almost did at Stoke with the late fift.

De Zerbi felt it was one of the best performances his side have turned in this season and delivered another of his “very good, can still do better” judgements in relation to Joao Pedro.

It was all a bit wilder than De Zerbi’s opposite number would have wanted.

Albion might face a very different test when they return to the Steel City next month.

A bigger crowd, more hostile atmosphere, different stakes.

And maybe a different tactical test from their hosts.

It felt on Saturday evening like Chris Wilder was preparing his team’s fans for a test of patience in the league game, even at this range.

Albion passed the ball through their hosts, worked angles and options and stitched together superb moves ahead of, most notably, the two first-half goals.

The opener wasn’t ‘just’ a great strike, the second wasn’t ‘just’ a penalty.

Both followed long, intricate passing moves which were great to watch.

One likes to think such sequences pull opponents out of position and open up space for the coup de grace.

One likes to think that was what happened when Julio Enciso scored his Puskas contender against Manchester City last season.

What was particularly interesting from the Blades boss was how he spelt out the tactical dilemma teams might be better throwing in Albion’s way.

When they went to Middlesbrough in the cup last season, there was a moment when the home team bowed to their fans’ urging and pressed enthusiastically.

Albion seemed trapped, the crowd rose – and seconds later Alexis Mac Allister was scoring his brilliant back-heel flick.

Three of the most experienced and pragmatic bosses in the game – Sean Dyche, David Moyes and Roy Hodgson – have told their teams to sit back at home to the Seagulls this season.

They have each gained a point, which is not to be sniffed at.

But how must it feel to turn up as a home fan at the end of a long working week, pay good money for your ticket and then watch your team sit back when what you really want is for them to have a good go at their visitors from down south?

One suspects Wilder will weigh up the options between now and the league fixture on February 18 and may go down the same route as the aforementioned bosses.

He said: “I think if you asked the majority of Premier League managers what their top three most difficult games are, I would say Brighton would be potentially in that category.

”So far we have played Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and they (Albion) are up there, just approach-wise.

“There are different ways of playing but it’s really difficult.

“There weren’t 30,000 of our supporters here today but there will be in three weeks’ time.

”They want you to be aggressive and competitive and stop them playing and it’s all right us, me, wanting to stop them playing.

“But it is easier said than done in terms of the angles they find and how they punch their way through teams.

“You have seen it today. The majority of our supporters have seen what we are up against and it’s top level.

“There are top, top players who have got youth and have experience and they have got a fabulous blend.”

That Albion blend will probably have been enriched when they return to Bramall Lane.

They are looking at maybe two weeks until Ansu Fati returns while both the Asian and African tournaments will be over by then.

In the absence of genuine wingers, they have found different routes and have either come up with either a lot of goals or none at all.

Here, Jack Hinshelwood played as a wide midfielder and Pervis Estupinan a bit more like a wing-back.

They did not raid at pace out wide but they pulled their hosts across the full width of the pitch, even when United weren’t willing to defend its full length.

There were 22 passes before Buonanotte connected with a 25-yard rocket which was still rising as it flew past United’s new goalkeeper Ivo Grbic.

They pulled and tempted their hosts out of shape before Jayden Bogle clipped Joao Pedro, who made it 2-0 from the spot.

The later stages of the first half will be a good reminder of what can happen at Bramall Lane if you let your guard down.

Two attempts to catch the hosts offside backfired as Gustavo Hamer drilled home and William Osula headed the leveller while Adam Webster gave him a nudge and hoped for offside.

But, again, the goal which restored the lead was not ‘just a penalty’.

Albion found ways to open up spaces to such a degree that the industrious Evan Ferguson would surely have headed home from close range had Bogle not handled.

Joao Pedro again did the necessary and later added an unerring 20-yard finish after Jan Paul van Hecke found a passing angle in traffic with United back and protecting their own area.

Wilder was right, the fifth was a counter-attack and Welbeck’s driven shot, after a strong run, was too hot for the keeper.

James McAtee hit the underside of the bar with almost the final kick but it was game over by then.

Will United come out to play when Albion visit three weeks from now?