Imagine if Dunk gets an FA Cup to go with his 400 Brighton games
The most important part of the Albion’s FA Cup trip to Stoke City for me was Brighton game number 400 for our absolute rock, Lewis Dunk.
There have been some brilliant film clips on the Albion website and social media before and after the trip to the Potteries, paying tribute to a man who has given everything for his hometown club and will continue to do so.
Dunk is a real credit to Brighton & Hove Albion. There is something extra special when a player born and bred in a town goes onto achieve everything Dunk has with his local team.
Having grown up in Hangleton myself, I feel like I can say for all WAB readers that we are so proud of Lewis and hope to see him play many, many more times for Brighton.
An FA Cup final might even be included in those future matches. A 1-0 victory against the Potters sent the Albion into the quarter finals, where they will now face League Two Grimsby Town.
Imagine if Brighton beat Grimsby, win their semi and go back to Wembley where Dunk lifts the trophy? What a fantastic way for an Albion great to mark 400 appearances for the club.
I could not make it to Stoke along with nearly 3,000 of our dedicated away supporters. Those who remained at home were treated to either the usual BBC Radio Sussex commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall or ITV4 televising live from the Bet365 Stadium.
Before the game, I had a weird feeling that Brighton would play well but end up let down by an error. Thankfully, that was not the case with the disappointment of the evening being to miss out seeing the Stoke City mascot Pottermous Hippo.
There was a minute of applause prior to kick off for football commentator John Motson. A legend of the game whose voice accompanied so many great moments, he sadly passed away last week.
Lewis Dunk was quickly into the action in his milestone match, doing well to prevent Tyrese Campbell from putting the Potters 1-0 ahead early on.
Brighton began to work their way into the game after that. Tariq Lamptey crossed to the far post where Facundo Buonanotte came close to notching his first Albion goal with a header just wide.
Steele made another good save from Campbell trying his luck with a low shot from long range. Having kept two good Stoke chances out, Brighton went and took the lead with a quality goal.
The move started with, who else, but Dunk. His pass from the back went straight through the Potters defence and into the path of the rushing Kaoru Mitoma.
The Japanese Bullet Train went around the Stoke right back and as home goalkeeper Jack Bonham came towards him, Mitoma played a pass across the box which gave Evan Ferguson a tap in.
It was such a creative goal to watch featuring top class football. If the Albion can keep conjuring up moves like that then my goodness, we have a great deal to look forward to over the next few months.
Steele continued to show his worth after Brighton went ahead, once again producing a cracking fingertip save to his right from Jordan Thompson.
Even with the Albion leading at the break, my feeling of dread remained. I was desperate for another Brighton goal to take the game away from Stoke.
The Albion’s start to the second half did not help. Jan Paul van Hecke conceded a free kick which Axel Tuanzebe met with a header very close to creeping inside Steele’s post for an equaliser.
That woke Brighton up and they were better from that point on. Mitoma could not quite squeeze home after Gross’ delivery into the box was headed on.
The television pictures very clearly showed the Albion should have had a corner but referee Darren Bond incorrectly awarded a goal kick.
Danny Welbeck was given some minutes on his return from injury. His first attempt at goal was blocked, followed by Deniz Undav putting an effort towards an open goal wide with Bonham stranded miles off his line.
Another piece of great build up gave Welbeck his second opportunity. Undav dummied for Welbeck to have a shot which hit the post.
Six inches to the left and Brighton would have wrapped the tie up. The woodwork thankfully did not prove costly as Stoke could find no equaliser and the Albion were through, one win from Wembley.
Can they now go all the way and Do it for Dunk? Watch this space.
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
