It was always going to be more than just a football match.

Albion's dramatic march into the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday week means they can give voice to their Falmer message. That is arguably more important than last night's penalty shoot-out win over Swindon.

Albion manager Mark McGhee, celebrating his 47th birthday with his joyous players at the end, was acutely aware of the significance that a visit to one of our finest stadiums will mean in the campaign to get a new ground of their own.

He said: "Winning this match would give us our greatest opportunity yet to demonstrate why the city of Brighton and Hove needs and deserves a stadium. Where better than in a final at the Millennium stadium to make our voices heard?"

But while McGhee was trying to keep everyone's feet on the ground, the 6,800 fans packed into a stadium that has been described as 'ramshackle' seemed either to be floating on air or running around the pitch, flatly ignoring pleas to get off it.

The less exuberant had mobile phones jammed to their ears or numb fingers from texting pals who had probably seen the drama unfold on TV anyway.

It had taken a while for the atmosphere to hot up. A thunderclap overhead an hour before kick-off made the handful of people in the stadium jump. If the players needed a wake-up call, that was it.

Goalkeeper Ben Roberts went through his warm-up routine, oblivious to the driving rain. Less than 100 fans were hunched in blue and white ponchos in the south stand less than 25 minutes before the start. It seemed as if many had decided to watch the match in the dry at home.

But gradually Withdean filled up, the atmosphere improved and the importance of the occasion began to build.

The DJ put on Good Vibrations but whether Albion players were picking them up was open to debate. Nerves were just too taught.

The supporters heeded McGhee's plea to stay patient, but is wasn't easy. Then, with Swindon 2-0 up and all hope seemingly lost, Adam Virgo emerged as the unlikely hero with the goal 13 seconds from the end which took the match to penalties. You'll know the rest by now.

The massive gate receipts and commercial spin-offs from the final against Bristol City will come in handy for a club losing money every day.

And it was clear the crowd have a handle on what McGhee was getting at when they chanted 'Stand up if you want Falmer.' That message will be reinforced by the 30,000 supporters likely to travel to Cardiff.

Albion will be hoping for a different result from their last play-off appearance against Notts County in 1991.

Let's hope John Prescott will be watching as well on Sunday week.