Our Road to Wembley feature returns for the fifth round and we are still following the exploits of Brighton.
Graeme Bailey chats with Brighton defender Adam El-Abd
Our Road to Wembley feature returns for the fifth round and we are still following the exploits of Brighton.
Despite entering the fifth round of the competition, we are still only with our second side as Brighton's progress continues.
Having dispatched of non-leaguers FC United after a replay, the Seagulls have gone on to beat Championship sides Portsmouth and Watford.
Now Brighton are into the last 16 of the tournament and are on the brink of a place in the quarter-finals.
But standing in their way now is Premier League Stoke City, and we catch up with Brighton defender Adam El-Abd ahead of the clash.
"It is a massive game, there is no denying that," he said.
"The FA Cup is magic, and it is something we are looking forward to.
"This is a plum tie for us, Stoke are a big club and it is a real sense of occasion."
Goals
Despite their excellent cup run, Brighton's one and only goal for the season remains promotion.
With a gleaming new stadium ready to move into come the summer, being in the Championship is the priority beyond any cup dream.
"There is no doubting that we want promotion, we know that and we would swap any progress in this competition for a win at Plymouth next week," El-Abd added.
But that is not to say the cup run has not done Brighton good, as he added: "There is a sense of a different atmosphere this week.
"In some ways it has taken off some of the pressure off, we are going to Stoke without anyone expecting us to do it.
"That said we are fully concentrated as ever, the gaffer has got us sorted."
Dreams
El-Abd is born and raised in Brighton and he knows more than most what cup success means for the fans.
"Everyone dreams of playing in the Premier League so for us to go there is amazing, but the fans also have a chance to go to a ground they normally just see every week on the television," he said.
"We are going there looking to put in a good display. Win, lose or draw it will not affect our season but it is a great chance and we want to give a good account of ourselves."
He admits that the way Brighton are heading they are a club that has changed beyond recognition to the one which he started playing for.
"The gaffer has come in, the new owners, and everything is geared towards this club going places," he noted.
"It is obviously becoming a very different club to the one I grew up with. I come from the town and support the club, and I know a lot of people who do the same, so it does mean a lot to me."
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