Ipswich Town and Lincoln City both win as they get ready for the replay that will decide who hosts Brighton in a fortnight

On Tuesday night Lincoln City and Ipswich Town will cross swords once again to find out who will earn the right to host Brighton in a fortnight on the next stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Yesterday they were both in action as they warmed up for the big one in two days time. Lincoln City travelled to Gateshead  for an FA Trophy tie and Ipswich were at home in a Championship fixture with Blackburn Rovers providing the opposition.

The Red Imps from Lincoln were in green on Tyneside yesterday. With their biggest match for many years to be played out at their Sincil Bank ground on Tuesday the Imps boss made 6 changes as he looked to rest key players. Despite fielding a 'mix and match' side Lincoln City won their FA Trophy tie handsomely and they can now look forward to the visit of Ipswich with great anticipation

Red Imps in Lincoln green as they celebrate on Tyneside yesterday

Down in East Anglia, the Tractor Boys ploughed through the opposition to gain 3 valuable Championship league points. They saw off Blackburn Rovers 3-2 and have moved up a couple of places in the league and are now comfortably mid table. On the goal trail for Ipswich was Scotsman Christophe Berra who notched their second goal. The Scotland internationalist will no doubt be looking to get on the scoresheet again on Tuesday night.

Scot Christophe Berra: a central defender who can also score goals

No significant injuries picked up by Ipswich yesterday and they too look forward to Tuesday with optimism.

Meanwhile my new team on the ‘Road’, Brighton and Hove Albion, were also in Championship action. The Seagulls from the south coast have been on a long unbeaten run lately but they finally came unstuck yesterday, losing away at Preston.

Brighton's garish change strip fails to unsettle Preston 

The heroes from the cup win against MK Dons last weekend were benched again as the Seagulls boss Hughton reverted to his first choice XI for a league match. The club’s top priority is promotion to the Premier Division. This meant that Scot Jamie Murphy was named as a substitute after starting, and playing well, against the Dons. The Scottish winger was brought on after 70 minutes with the Seagulls trailing by two goals but he was unable to change the match and the home team ran out 2-0 winners.

Brighton and Hove Albion now lie in wait for the winners of the FA Cup replay at Lincoln on Tuesday evening. It has been announced that the replay is being shown live on BBC TV and I will be tuned in. I will know late on Tuesday night whether I will be heading for Ipswich or Lincoln on the 28^th January. Can the Red Imps defy the odds and ensure that their agricultural style of play is too much for the Tractor Boys? Will Ipswich assert their superiority at the second attempt and end the Imps fairy story? Come back here on Wednesday and all will be revealed. Keep reading.