What to say about that first 45 minutes – dull, uneventful, disappointing – so very little. It was clear that the O's were no pushovers. They had the better of that poor first half. But I can report that the queue for the ice cream van was enormous with many not making it back in time for the restart.

Micky Adams was equally upset by what he had seen. Dean Cox and David Livermore didn't reappear and Kevin McLeod and Jake Robinson were on.
Chances came at both ends – but weren't taken. Our FDM Michel Kuipers was the busier of the keepers and arguably Man of the Match. He kept another clean sheet.

McLeod did figure in most of the Albion's forward play. His free kicks and centres were an improvement on the delivery managed by Cox. Adam Virgo powered his way onto one of McLeod's corners only to see his header cleared off the line. Meanwhile Kuipers was called upon to make a great one-handed save from the O's Jarvis.

It was a much better 45 minutes. Either side could have won and it could have ended 3-3. But neither Albion nor Orient could find the killer touch.

Jason Demetriou who always looked dangerous for Orient nearly broke the deadlock with 20 minutes left. His shot narrowly missed. Ten minutes later he was through on goal only for Kuipers to race off his line for a last gasp block.

At the very end we should have won. It would have been harsh on a good Orient side but it was the clearest of chances. Robinson combined with Glenn Murray who found McLeod running in for what looked to be a tap in. Glenn Morris in the Orient goal was somehow able to make a fantastic low save. So 0-0 it ended. There was talk of a few boos but I think it was more moans and groans of disappointment.

Our team was expected to win but it didn't happen. The manager acknowledged they hadn't played well. He said that several in his team have yet to master the "Withdean experience". I think I know what he means. It is a very strange atmosphere at our athletics stadium and some players have still to regard it as home. So it's not quite Fortress Withdean!

We may have felt slightly glum trekking home. However, a look at the table should cheer Seagulls fans up! Fact one – we are fourth after four games on eight points. Fact two – we are unbeaten in five (including one cup game). These are reasons to be cheerful (AND Crystal Palace are in the relegation zone at present).

The three above us, Leicester, Oldham and Carlisle are only two points ahead. Next up, this Saturday, is Scunthorpe United, again at Withdean giving us another chance to cement ourselves at the top.

You will have noticed Manchester City sitting near the top of the Premiership. After their successful exploits in Europe (UEFA Cup) they are at our Withdean on September 24th for the Carling Cup second round game. What will they make of the Withdean experience? What do we think following the latest news of trillionaire owners for City?

What about Robinho at Withdean? Suddenly we are playing the richest club in England, probably Europe and possibly the world! Whatever, there will be fewer than 9,000 to see them, and almost all will be Seagulls' fans! Micky will be rubbing his hands at this chance to bring Brighton to the attention of the footballing nation. Nobody is worth £32.5 million and I hope our defence can prove the point in a couple of weeks' time. You could buy half of Falmer stadium for that!

Let's be honest, the money involved is obscene. It isn't good for English football and almost everybody would cheer if we achieved a fantastic cup upset. But if one of the lesser billionaires thought a south coast team with a new stadium coming on line was a suitable place for part of his fortune, would we say "No"? Probably not – but I'd still prefer "SKINT".

PS – in the prestigious Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night, the Albion beat the Cobblers at Northampton with a 30-yard screamer from McLeod.

Six unbeaten – the treble is still on!