Albion 2, MK Dons 0

Neil Warnock, the only manager to have stopped Albion from scoring since September, reckons the Seagulls have the best team in the Championship, Newcastle easily the best squad.

The Cardiff boss may be right, but the FA Cup has provided compelling evidence of how well equipped Albion are to sustain their promotion challenge in the second half of the season and, perhaps, to remain above the North-East giants.

A year ago, en route to missing out so narrowly on a place in the Premier League, Chris Hughton made seven changes as his side were knocked out at Hull.

Half of the outfield starting line-up that day - Inigo Calderon, Adam Chicksen, Andrew Crofts, Danny Holla and Elvis Manu - have been moved on, either permanently or in the latter's case, for now, again temporarily.

Another member of the team tamed by the Tigers, Rohan Ince, is ripe for another loan exit this month.

Twelve months on, Hughton made 11 changes for the third round visit of League One MK Dons.

He was still able to field players with Premier League, Champions League, Bundesliga and La Liga experience, three current internationals and last season's leading marksman.

Rafa Benitez is entitled to have more choice at St James' Park, courtesy of Newcastle's recent top flight pedigree and spending power, but Albion have assembled a deeply powerful group to last the course, notwithstanding the anticipated strengthening of their striker options by the end of the month.

Leading the way in a passage every bit as routine as the results suggests was Beram Kayal.

Fifteen weeks after sustaining a fractured ankle in a game with the same outcome against Barnsley, the inspirational Israeli was back in action at the Amex, intent on making up for more lost time in a career dogged by injury difficulties.

Kayal (below) scored after only nine minutes - his first goal for nearly a year - set up his companion and international associate Tomer Hemed for the second half sealer and lasted longer than expected before departing to a standing ovation from two sides of the ground (the only two sides open) with 12 minutes remaining.

The Argus: It was a perfect comeback for a player whose return to contention further emphasises that Albion are in significantly better shape than this time last year, when they were in an injury-hit dip.

 

Their dependence on Kayal and Dale Stephens in the middle of the park carried all the way through to the bitter end.

Not so this time. Without Kayal they have won 11 matches and drawn four in their 18-game unbeaten run, Saturday's skipper and partner Sidwell, Stephens and summer signing Oliver Norwood disguising his absence admirably.

While Newcastle have struggled to cope without the suspended Jonjo Shelvey, Hughton now has a fresh Kayal's driving influence at his disposal once more to widen his options. It is just as well the squad has substantial depth, with at least 23 matches left to play in 16 weeks.

It could be more if further progress is made in the FA Cup. Newcastle's visit already faces rescheduling, together with the fogbound Cardiff postponement. The fifth round coincides with a February trip to Barnsley, the quarter-finals a home game against Derby in March.

It was at Derby midway through last season that Solly March suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.

The winger eased his way through his first 90 minutes since then and played a part in the build-up to the quick lead provided by Kayal.

Fellow countryman Tomer Hemed laid the ball back for Kayal to find the bottom corner with his right foot from 20 yards, puncturing any optimism MK Dons had about causing an upset.

More or less at full-strength, their tame performance did not say a lot for the third tier. The only hint of menace came from the imposing Chuks Aneke and even the ex-Arsenal youngster was eventually subdued by Rob Hunt, who earned praise for his perky display from Hughton together with the other adventurous rookie full-back, Sam Adekugbe.

Connor Goldson, accompanied at the heart of the defence by Uwe Huenemeier, will face more of test when he deputises for the banned Lewis Dunk at Preston on Saturday, but the 90 minutes will have helped remove some rust.

Hemed had chances to score more than once. He had a shot blocked in a sweeping move involving Kayal and Hunt in the first half, then lifted a sitter over the bar midway through the second half after March and Kayal set him up.

The Argus: Hemed (above) eventually removed any lingering hopes for MK Dons of forcing an improbable replay. Kayal drifted away from some static defending before picking him out with telepathic accuracy.

Hemed's well-placed header means he now has three goals in his last six appearances and seven in all competitions, ten if you include international duty.

He has momentum, so have Albion. A sixth win in succession, even with a different set of players, continues the feelgood factor running through the club.

Hughton said: "It was an opportunity for first team football for players and competition in the squad. But it is also that little bit of continuity.

"We looked at this result in exactly the same way as we looked at the result last week and the week before. It's another game we've managed to win, which keeps a run going and the level of confidence."

There are plenty of reasons to be confident Albion can keep going on two fronts, even if only one really matters.