Football is a funny old game. Until the win against Leicester, when we came back from two goals down to win 3-2, the Seagulls hadn't managed a home win the league this season. Worse we weren't beating bottom teams like Hereford, Cheltenham or Leyton Orient. "Fortress" Withdean was a bit of a laugh and visiting teams actually enjoyed the experience.

We sank down the table so that after the away defeat by Hartlepool I actually used the "R" word. Then came the Leicester win and things suddenly brightened.

It was wet, wet, wet at Withdean on Saturday afternoon. Amazingly a crowd of 6,000 turned out in their all-weather gear, and blue and white plastic ponchos to brave the incessant driving rain. Happily the Albion performance kept them warm although it wasn't until the 45 minute that Glen Murray broke the deadlock by turning his marker and left-footing past Lions' keeper David Forde.

Millwall equalised early in the second half with a fine curling shot from Tresor Kandol. On 58 minutes, Glenn Murray stepped up to take a fortunate penalty. It was saved but he slotted home the rebound for his tenth goal this season.

Things got better still in the 65th minute as Bradley Johnson (on loan from Leeds) ran through the middle to notch our third goal. Finally our little Dean Cox volleyed home from six yards. So it ended as a decisive 4-1 win to the Albion. Our fans went home wet but happy. Glass half empty and we are now six points from a relegation spot. Glass half full and we are seven points from the play-offs.

Tuesday night saw Derby County at Withdean for the third Round of the Carling Cup (remember - we did beat Manchester city in Round Two!). We pummelled the Rams from the start. After 10 minutes we could have been three up! Stuart Fleetwood (can we call him Mac do you think?) is our latest loan recruit from Charlton. He is fleet of foot and could have scored twice in that opening spell. First his angled run had us up out of our seats cheering only for his shot to be cleared off of the line.

Two minutes later he was through again. Again we were up ready to cheer as there was only the keeper, ex-Man United man Roy Carroll, to beat.

He unselfishly slipped the ball to Murray to tap home. But then a very unpopular assistant referee put his flag up. This isn't the first time Murray has been offside and it won't be the last but fans around me share the view that somebody, preferably manager Micky Adams, should explain the offside rule to our Glenn! To be fair Adams was adamant Murray was onside having seen it replayed.

So we weren't ahead after that strong start and Derby began to get back into the game. Disaster came in the 29th minute. John Sullivan in the Albion goal, who Adams preferred to a fit again Michel Kuipers keeping to his don't change a winning team philosophy, dropped the ball in an aerial tussle with Emanuel Villa. The Derby forward lashed home.

Obviously we all thought Sullivan had been fouled but referee Kevin Friend wasn't friendly at all and saw nothing wrong. As Adams said after, nine times out of 10 it would have been a foul on the keeper. So 6,000 of the 6,700 at Withdean were feeling somewhat aggrieved at this point.

It got worse shortly after when Colin Hawkins couldn't deal with a through ball, leaving Sullivan stranded as Nathan Ellington scored. We came back against Leicester from two down and Tommy Elphick gave us hope just before half-time with a fine headed goal from a Kevin Thornton corner.

Derby succeeded in killing our hopes off in the second half. Their third goal came through villa again with 17 minutes left. He completed his hat-trick right at the end. The score line flattered Derby but we must say they took their chances efficiently and were worth their place in the next round.

Out of one cup but plenty to play for coming up! Saturday and it is the FA Cup with Hartlepool at Withdean. Here's the chance to sink 'Pool after their win a fortnight ago up in the north-east. Then on Wednesday it is Swindon, again at Withdean, in the quarter final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.