This ode (with apologies to the great bard and King Henry) was an email awaiting me after the Carling Cup game at Withdean against the world's richest club, Manchester City. Tragically I missed the long-awaited and crucial game. I wanted to be there but sunshine won out meaning I didn't get to see this epic encounter. I sent off "Result?" text to my ticket holder only to receive back "2-2 still playing." In what seemed an age "Albion won 5-3 on penalties!" The improbable had happened. Our Seagulls, who lost four days earlier to nine-man Walsall, had beaten the mighty moneyed Manchester City.

Mark Hughes, the City manager, left out £32.5 million Robinho but stilled played a star-studded team that was expected to beat currently struggling Brighton. Included were big names like Kasper Schmeichel (son of Peter), Tal Ben-Haim, Richard Dunne, Gelson Fernades, Stephen Ireland, Vincent Kompany, Jo and Elano.

Micky Adams made changes to the Albion team that hit rock bottom against Walsall. Tom Fraser, Doug Loft and David Livermore started in midfield whilst Adam Virgo was pushed upfront in place of the injured Nicky Forster. Our team cost £300,000 (for one player, Glen Murray).

I don't know what the City squad cost – but Jo alone came in at £18 million! It was possibly the best game at Withdean since the glory play-off semi-final against Swindon in 2004. You know the result but the stats were – 64mins: Fernades knocks in Jo's pass from 12 yards to put City one up. 89: Steve Thompson's shot is parried by Schmeichel and Murray rams home to equalise and force extra-time. 95: Sub Dean Cox finds Joe Anyinsah who coolly scores, 2-1. 109: Excitement mounts further. Ireland wins race for long ball and beats Kuipers to take match to PENALTY SHOOT-OUT. Livermore scores – so does Ched Evans for City, 1-1. Tommy Elphick scores for Albion – so does Elano for City, 2-2. Murray scores – as does Vincent Kompany for City, 3-3. Virgo scores for Albion – Kuipers saves Michael Ball's attempt, 4-3. Matt Richards (pictured) scores to win the tie for Brighton, 5-3!

It was a record crowd at Withdean for this dramatic victory. The ground was full with 8,800, including around 800 from Manchester. Actually some came from the Middle East, checking on their investment, plus one or two local Mancunians of the blue variety. They were in good voice early on. "You've only here 'cos of City" they sang, and magnanimously, "Can we buy you a ground?" In the end though it was "Good old Sussex by the Sea" that came through.

Now we can dream on into the next rounds! We are at home again in the third round to Derby County: Withdean on Tuesday, November 4. Victory over the Rams would see Leeds United again at Withdean. After the City result anything is possible. Hopefully "Fortress Withdean" is at last reality for this season and can we look forward to Chelsea, Liverpool or the poor City relations Man United in the quarter-finals?

After the heroics of the Cup, it was back to the more mundane League One, away at Northampton. It couldn't compare with the Man City game but it was eventful. Albion defended for much of the game at the Sixfields Stadium. However our on-loan midfielder Anyinsah was always a threat with his pace going forward. He was bundled over and Glen Murray confidently stroked home the penalty. New loan signing Kevin Thornton was introduced in the second-half and he was unlucky with a free-kick that was kept out by the crossbar. Northampton's pressure told eventually and Adebayo Akinfenwa hit an equaliser.

But in the third minute of stoppage time it was Murray to make it 2-1. Unfortunately in the 96th minute Kuipers missed a corner and Akinfenwa scored his second to get the draw. Next up Cheltenham at Withdean tomorrow and another chance to get the first home (league) win and move up the table!