A Happy New Year for Seagulls and Dons as both secure useful results on the road

Yesterday on New Year Bank Holiday Monday the Seagulls and the Dons were in league action for the last time before they meet in Brighton on Saturday in the FA Cup round 3. They both secured good results away from home.

Brighton and Hove Albion travelled up to The Big Smoke to take on Fulham in a Championship fixture. The Seagulls were under the cosh for most of this game but the indefatigable Albion still found a way to win. Goalie Stockdale saved a penalty in the first half to keep the score blank at half time. Ten minutes into the second period the home team opened the scoring and with Fulham still 1-0 ahead with 16 minutes to play it looked as if the Seagulls long unbeaten record was coming to an end. However the men from Brighton are not top of the Championship table for nothing and they came storming back with two goals within two minutes in the final quarter of an hour of the match. First Hemed scored a penalty and then centre back Dunk headed in the winning goal.

 

Dunk has spunk! A brave header from Seagull's centre back sparks wild celebrations

 Brighton’s second goal prompted wild celebrations in the away end where 7000 Brighton fans were housed having made the journey up from the south coast. It now seems very likely indeed that the Seagulls will clinch promotion and will be playing their football in the land of milk and honey that is the English Premier League next season.

Brighton fans in huge numbers in South London yesterday

Scot watch: Brighton’s Scots winger Jamie Murphy is still on the comeback trail and he was given a further 10 minutes of playing time yesterday when manager Chris Hughton introduced him to the action as a late substitute. My guess is that Murphy will start on Saturday in the Big One against the MK Dons.

Meanwhile further north in Chesterfield the MK Dons took on the local side in a League One match. Chesterfield is a place I am particularly fond of and it holds some great memories for me. Yesterday, under the shadow of the crooked spire, the Dons also enjoyed themselves. By all accounts the Dons dominated the match against the Spireites. The men from MK had more possession, more shots and more corners but on this occasion could not turn their dominance into goals and the match finished 0-0.

An acrobatic effort from Dons Goal Machine Maynard is well saved yesterday

A noisy travelling support from Milton Keynes had made the 200 mile round trip up the M1 to cheer on their favourites. A draw is not a perfect result but another point is useful for the Dons who have now moved 6 points clear of the relegation zone.

Dons in Derbyshire: Top fans Nick Hedges and Colin Butler are back row just left of the steward

Scot watch: Scots Dons boss Robbie Neilson set up the team well and they were unlucky not to win. Scottish centre back Jack Hendry again warmed the bench yesterday and once more he was an unused sub. Maybe Neilson is holding Jack back to be a secret  weapon on Saturday. Away from the field of play Neilson is wheeling and dealing in the transfer market. Midfielder Carruthers has been sold to Sheffield United and the rumour up here north of the border is that his first signing will be Scott Bain the talented young goalkeeper who is currently the custodian of the onion bag for Dundee FC in the Scottish Premier League.

The next match for both teams is the Big One. The FA Cup 3^rd round tie between Brighton and Hove Albion and the MK Dons at the Amex Stadium on Saturday the 7^th January 2017. The 12^th stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland

Only 4 sleeps until matchday - cannae wait

I am looking forward to catching up with all the Dons fans in the away end at The Amex and also catching up with Adam Poots, Joe Black and Peter Tissington. It should be a great day out and it could be a classic match. Come back here on Friday for the big match preview. Keep reading.