Tucked away at the back of the away stand, the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton presented an awesome spectacle.

It wasn't just the sheer size of the place or even the sight of 22,000 home supporters packing the seats that took my breath away. It was more to do with the whole Molineux package, from a sound system worthy of that description unlike the village fete quality public address effects enjoyed at most other grounds right through to the fireworks display that heralded the players' arrival on the pitch.

For a dreadfully disloyal moment, I was doubtful about how our lads would cope with the Molineux Effect but they proved me wrong with an absolutely superb first-half display and an honourable final result, even if this wasn't the three points that would have made for a perfect evening.

Having been so impressed with Molineux, I was naturally intrigued by a front page item in the Wolverhampton daily paper which I picked up on the way home.

On page four, in a Special Report I could find out just 'What its like to be an away fan at Molineux'. Turning immediately to the article, I discovered that a local journalist had infiltrated the away ranks having recklessly walked around Wolverhampton in a blue scarf en route. And to think that none of us noticed!

In fairness, it was an interesting piece, he liked the singing and banter, although he managed to slip in the inevitable reference to Brighton's Gay scene, and he was pleased to note the lack of trouble between opposing fans. He suffered no ill effects from wearing a blue scarf although since the scarf made him look more like an undergraduate from some Wolverhampton college of knowledge than an Albion supporter, this was hardly surprising.

What he won't have realised, and what caused great hilarity among the Albion fans who found his article on the internet, was precisely the sort of company he was keeping during his daring mission behind enemy lines. The picture that accompanied his article showed him sat directly behind two luminaries of the Supporters Association. Both ladies, it is fair to say, not minded to tolerate any sort of grief so the lad was in much safer hands than he could have known, spending his evening with more of an Assortment of Aunties than an Axis of Evil!

As a genuine away supporter, I can confirm the lack of aggravation from Wolves fans. I travelled across Birmingham to the game and mainly met complete disinterest from the opposition.

In fact, the only peculiar look I got was from a distinctly peculiar chap on the train after the game. But since he had gone to the match with what looked like his entire collection of Wolves memorabilia and spent the journey dribbling over umpteen folders packed into umpteen carrier bags, I categorised him as just plain odd rather than hostile.

Sampling the experience of being an away fan is going to produce very different results if there is any history of rivalry. I've watched matches from the wrong end at various London grounds, most of these being at games where any sort of investigative experiment would have been perilous. Wolves have no particular interest in Albion in this respect and it is no surprise his evening concluded quietly.

From a Brighton perspective it was an eventful evening and worth travelling up for. It was pleasing to shout 1-0 to the Albion at a sea of supporters united by their hatred of West Brom. And watch them discover that there's more than one Albion capable of giving them a run for their money, no matter how awesome the atmosphere.

Roz South edits Brighton Rockz fanzine. Email roz@southspark.co.uk