The end game is in sight for Brighton but it's a bad Knight for the Imps. Next they will square up at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

Last night the Seagulls and the Imps played their last league games before the Big One on Saturday and I played chess. As was the case last Friday remarkably both the protagonists were live on telly. Brighton v Cardiff was live on Sky and Barrow v Lincoln was live on BT Sport. While the Seagulls and the Imps were sweating it out in Brighton and Barrow, at the Polish Club in central Edinburgh the live action was the match between Wandering Dragons C team and Civil Service Chess Club and I was sweating it out playing for the Fire Breathers.

What's on telly? Blogger neglecting his research duties last night.

Although I was not able to watch the Seagulls match I have seen a brief highlights package. The Albion were not quite on their A game and their keeper Stockdale had to make two good saves early on to keep the scores level. As the game wore on the Seagulls flying winger Solly March became more influential and looked keen to break the deadlock. It looked as if the home side might draw a blank but although their limbs may be weary their spirit is indomitable and after 73 minutes they scored the only goal of the match. Israeli international Hemed turned on the edge of the box and fired an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.

Goalscorer Hemed gets a well deserved pat on the head from Scot Jamie Murphy

Scotwatch: Brighton’s only Scot, Jamie Murphy was in good form all evening and almost doubled the home side’s lead shortly after Hemed’s strike. It seems likely that Murphy will be given a starting place in the big match on Saturday.

On a murky night in south Cumbria Lincoln City lost for only the 6^th time this season in all competitions. The Imps are still in the FA Trophy, they top the Vanarama National League and of course they are still in the FA Cup. With so much football coming their way recently perhaps they were due an off night – and last night was an off night. I have just watched the re-run of the match on BT Sport and the 3-0 scoreline in Barrow’s favour does not flatter the home side.

Who loves ya baby? A touching Barrowmantic moment after Barrow's second goal

The better team won and the Imps played as if they had other things on their mind. With Brighton and Hove Albion due in town on Saturday I suspect that their minds were elsewhere. Barrow are no mugs and their first two goals were well worked and well taken. The last goal in the final minute of the match was a penalty and it looked like a soft award. Young Lincoln City defender Alex Woodyard was adjudged to have impeded a Barrow forward in the penalty box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Imp's Woodyard hides his head in shame after conceding the late penalty

Scotwatch: As has been previously reported Lincoln City do not have any Scots in their squad at this present time. However, their Jamaican international striker Theo Robinson does have a tenuous link with Bella Caledonia. The big front man played 10 games for Motherwell last season in the Scottish Premier League. Good on you Robinson.

The preparations are now complete. The next football to be played by the Seagulls and the Imps is the FA Cup tie at Sincil Bank on Saturday. There have been 2 previous FA Cup meetings between the two clubs, with one win apiece. The clubs first met in 1914/15 season when it was Brighton who were the Non-League club. However, it was the Seagulls who won on that occasion, but the Imps won in 2003/04 when they were the underdogs. A similar outcome this year will see Lincoln City equal the best FA Cup run of any Non-League club since the current structure was put in place for the 1925/26 season. Lincoln City are appearing in the Fourth Round for the first time in 41 years, but they have not appeared in the Fifth Round for 130 years, two seasons before the Football League even started, when they were defeated 3-0 by Glasgow Rangers. Brighton and Hove Albion, on the other hand, have made the Fifth Round three times in their last six FA Cup campaigns.

Who will emerge victorious in the game that will be match 13 on The Road to Wembley from Scotland?  You will have to come back here on Sunday to check – mate.