For Seagull fans, however, Easter Monday brought the anticipation of the biggest game of the season. More than 18,000 saw high-flying Nottingham Forest at the City Ground trying to stop our push for the play-offs in League One.

But I've jumped ahead. On the Saturday the Seagulls hosted Swindon Town at Withdean. This was a more bread and butter, must win, game for us. Around 7,000 packed into our temporary ground. It was especially good to see the family stand full of youngsters (just £1).

Manager Dean Wilkins had noted that it was best not to concede early goals – e.g. four minutes against Gillingham. Unfortunately nobody told Swindon who started brightly and scored their goal after just seven minutes! This was a dampener to say the least. At that stage it wasn't actually damp, the cold, wet, white stuff came later, but it was bitterly cold. Five layers including two Albion shirts still didn't keep me warm.

Happily on the football front things got better as we were able to stamp and cheer when Nicky Forster equalised with a superb header barely four minutes later.

The conditions were difficult with strong north winds. Swindon believed they could win and have play-off chances. But half-way into the second 45 minutes it was Forster, again, who sealed the win. He doesn't usually take free-kicks. Penalties yes, but not free kicks. Despite being outside the penalty area Forster took the kick. Using the wind his shot delightfully found the top corner. Even six-foot six-inch Peter Brezovan couldn't keep it out.

This was a huge win for the Albion in the circumstances. Full backs Matt Richards and Andrew Whing are out, injured and suspended. Against all the odds "old-timers" Kerry Mayo and Gary Hart have been called up to plug the gaps. They may have lost a little pace but experience was everything.

Next we have a new midfielder (effectively filling in for the injured Adam El-Abd) Frenchman Therry Racon. Wilkins has been trying to find the missing link in our centre for some time and Racon just might be what is needed. He's 23, born near Paris, 5'10" and light at around 10 stone. Amusingly, it was reported that he had played for Leyton Orient. Wrong! In fact he had played almost 30 games for the Bretagne club, Lorient. We have him on loan from Charlton. If things continue to go well the big question will be, can we keep him?

My biggest concern at the moment is "cost-a-mint" Glenn Murray. Whilst Forster is knocking them in for fun, Glenn isn't scoring. He last scored back in February when he hit four in the month. By my unscientific reckoning he has had around 20 chances since and none have gone in. Some were difficult, some hit woodwork, some were superbly saved, but several should have hit the back of the net. I like Murray and his partnership with Forster and hope it is just one of those barren spells before a flood of goals!

And so it was Easter Monday, for Brighton's biggest game of the season. Michel Kuipers was MOTM, being unbeatable, with the help of the woodwork and a hard working defence. He made at least three superb saves, keeping a clean sheet and ensuring a 0-0 draw.

Albion had their chances. Forster went close early on. Murray just failed to connect with a Gary Hart cross. Tommy Elphick saw his header palmed onto the bar by the Forest keeper. Forest had the better of the second half, putting us under severe pressure, but Joel Lynch still had time to go close with a great 35-yard strike. With just five minutes left Kuipers was beaten, but more than 1,000 travelling Seagulls fans celebrated as the ball came back off the post.

Other results and this point took Brighton into the play-off zone at last. I think our interest will go right through to May now. In the meantime there is the little matter of Leeds United on Saturday at Elland Road. If Leeds win they take our place in the top six. But hey, former European champions Forest couldn't beat us, so Leeds United? No problems!