Jan 18, 2014 at 3pm UK at ​Pride Park
DerbyDerby County
1-0
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion
Bamford (75')
Buxton (28'), Eustace (42'), Forsyth (65'), Martin (89'), Ward (90')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Greer (18'), Andrews (30'), Ulloa (90')

Live Commentary: Derby County 1-0 Brighton & Hove Albion - as it happened

Derby's Jamie Ward in action against Leeds on October 5, 2013
© Getty Images
Relive Sports Mole's text coverage of the Championship clash between playoff hopefuls Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Two sides in the Championship playoff places met at the iPro Stadium this afternoon as Derby County hosted Brighton & Hove Albion.

The hosts hadn't won in 2014 but did manage to break that duck in a game of few chances, with second-half substitute Patrick Bamford netting the winner.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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2.31pmAllo allo! Welcome to our coverage of Derby County's match against in-form Brighton & Hove Albion. No time to waste, let's get to the two lineups...

2.33pmDERBY XI: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Eustace, Bryson, Hughes; Ward, Dawkins; Martin

2.34pmDERBY SUBS: Legzdins, Keane, Bennett, Bamford, Sammon, Whitbread, Hendrick

2.35pmBRIGHTON XI: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Ince, Andrews, Forster-Caskey; David, Orlandi, Ulloa

2.36pmBRIGHTON SUBS: Brezovan; Dunk, Calderon, Chicksen, Agustien, March, Obika

2.38pmDerby manager Steve McClaren names what is his strongest available XI. It includes two changes from last week's 4-1 thrashing at Leicester City, with experienced duo Richard Keogh and John Eustace back for Michael Keane and Jeff Hendrick.

2.40pmSpeaking of Leicester, the league leaders have already won their match this weekend by snatching all three points at Leeds in the final moments. They didn't play all that well but managed to get the job done, making it six wins on the bounce. They're now seven points clear at the top ahead of the 11 matches kicking off in 20 minutes.

2.43pmLike Derby, Brighton have made a pair of changes to their lineup today. Oscar Garcia recalls Andrea Orlandi and Jake Forster-Caskey for Andrew Crofts and Kazenga LuaLua. Crofts has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in last week's victory over Birmingham.

2.46pmREFEREE WATCH: The man in charge today is Andy Haines, who last took charge of a game involving these two in December when Derby romped past Blackpool 5-1. That day he sent off two Blackpool players and Derby will be hoping he is a good omen as they are yet to win in 2014.

2.50pmWe've got a BRAND NEW live Championship blog that's covering all 11 3pm kickoffs in the second tier. I highly recommend that you open this link in a new tab/page if you want to keep up to date with the other matches.

2.55pmPREDICTION TIME! Just five minutes until we begin in the East Midlands so I best make my pre-game prediction. I fancy Derby to get the three points. 2-0 to the hosts.

2.57pmThe two sides are now out of the tunnel. Derby are in their black and white home colours while Brighton go for their yellow away kit.

2.59pmWhen these sides last met way back on the second weekend of the season in August it was Derby who won on the South coast thanks to a Chris Martin double. We're just about ready to go!

1 minKICKOFF! Haines blows his whistle for the first time and we're off at the iPro Stadium.

1 minThe Seagulls have a shot inside the first minute as the ball breaks to Andrews 25 yards out. He strikes it quite well but can only pull it a good few yards wide of the post.

4 minLittle has happened since that early effort and there hasn't been a goal in the Championship at all yet.

3.08pmUPDATE! The first goal of the 3pm kickoffs in the Championship comes at the Keepmoat Stadium as Doncaster go in front against Wigan. REMEMBER, you can follow updates on all 11 Championship games with us here.

9 minBack to the iPro Stadium where Derby are knocking the ball around quite nicely but are yet to carve out an opening of any sorts.

13 minBrighton have had a couple of free kicks in decent positions to whip it in but both Orlandi and Lopez sent in poor crosses.

17 minBOOKING! The first name to go into referee Haines's book is Brighton skipper Greer for bringing down Dawkins from behind.

20 minTwenty minutes in and we're still yet to have a decent effort on goal. Surprisingly cagey from these two so far.

22 minSHOT! Moments later and there is a decent attempt from Ward but he can only curl it wide. Kuszczak didn't look too worried.

26 minSAVE! Closest we've come by a mile as Orlandi's corner is met powerfully by Upson. It's a brilliant save by Grant but Upson didn't quite direct it far enough to the side of the Derby keeper.

28 minBOOKING! Buxton is the first Derby name in the book after some needless time-wasting.

29 minBOOKING! Andrews is next to be shown yellow. Derby have a free kick in a dangerous area that Bryson curls over with Kuszczak punching well clear.

33 minWe've started to see a lot more action near the penalty areas, with Derby now the side doing most of the pressing. Kuszczak still yet to make a save.

37 minBruno flicks into the path of Lopez, whose cross in towards Forster-Caskey is bravely headed clear by Keogh.

40 min

42 minBOOKING! A fourth yellow card of the half is shown to Derby midfielder Eustace for a challenge on Forster-Caskey.

45 minThree minutes of time has been added on at the end of the first period. Neither side has particularly deserved a goal.

45+3 minHALF TIME: DERBY 0-0 BRIGHTON

3.50pmNothing of note in added time as both sides headed back to the dressing room looking a little glum after a poor half of football.

3.53pmCheck out the other half-time scores in that red box to the right of this commentary or see them in more detail by clicking here.

3.57pmThe one and only chance of note in the opening 45 minutes came when Brighton defender Upson thumped a header goalwards and was denied by a fine save by Grant.

4pmClick here to see how the table is shaping up with gameweek 26's matches at half time. Brighton are falling out of the top six while Derby will drop 12 points shy of leaders Leicester if they only get a point today.

4.03pmLooks like Garcia could be making a half-time change as Adam Chicksen is given some instructions by a Seagulls coach during the break. They should be back out soon.

46 minKICKOFF! Nope, Garcia keeps with the same XI that started the game. So does McClaren. We're back underway in the East Midlands. Let's hope for more action in the second 45!

48 min

51 minThe second half has resumed how the first started with flat football leading to a pretty flat atmosphere inside the iPro Stadium.

54 minOrlandi's cutback almost reaches Lopez at the back post before Forysth swipes it clear. Impossible to call a winner in this game at the moment.

59 minDERBY SUBS: Double change for the hosts as Patrick Bamford and Jeff Hendrick come on for Hughes and Dawkins.

61 minDear oh dear. Forster-Caskey picks up the ball with time on the left of the box. He should get his head up but instead lashes a shot high into the stands. Sums up this game so far.

63 minBamford shifts the ball onto his left foot and looks for Martin at the back post. He overhits his cross though.

65 minBOOKING! Forsyth picks up the first booking of the second half for bringing down Bruno.

67 minBRIGHTON SUB: Garcia makes his first change of the afternoon, with Orlandi off and Solly March on.

71 minDerby have a free kick 30 yards out that Bamford lines up but blazes so far over the bar. One of the worst free kicks I've ever seen.

73 minDERBY SUB: Final change for the hosts as McClaren sends on another striker in Connor Sammon for right-back Wisdom.

76 minGOAL! DERBY 1-0 BRIGHTON (BAMFORD)

75 minThe ball breaks to substitute Bamford and he instinctively curls it in the far corner from the edge of the area. Top finish to finally break the deadlock.

78 minSAVE! Ward had a shot saved as Derby almost searched for another but it's Brighton who come closest as Ulloa swivels in the area but is denied by the strong hands of Grant.

79 minBRIGHTON SUB: Garcia sends on new loanee Jonathan Obika for Forster-Caskey.

82 minBRIGHTON SUB: Another change for the Seagulls, with Kemy Agustien on for Lopez.

82 minBRIGHTON SUB: Another change for the Seagulls, with Kemy Agustien on for Lopez.

83 minSuperb cross into the middle by Andrews that's just too strong for Obika to get a toe to it and divert it goalwards.

86 minAs things stand, Derby will be closing to within four points of the top three. It will be their first win of 2014.

89 minBOOKING! Martin charges into Greer and becomes the fourth Derby player in the book.

90 minFour minutes has been added on for Brighton to try to find an equaliser.

90+1 minBOOKING! Another yellow card for Derby striker Ward.

90+4 minBOOKING! Another yellow card, this time for Brighton striker Ulloa.

90+5 minFULL TIME: DERBY 1-0 BRIGHTON

4.56pmDerby squeeze through a game where neither side deserved to win. Bamford's goal was a touch of class but a 0-0 draw would have definitely been the right result.

4.59pmDerby remain 10 points adrift of league leaders Leicester in fourth place. Brighton drop a place to seventh because of Reading's 7-1 thrashing of Bolton. You heard, seven!

5.03pmThanks for joining Sports Mole, don't blame us that it was a dull affair! Well done to Derby though, they get back to winning ways against a stubborn Brighton side. Stick around on site for plenty more reaction and analysis throughout the evening.

Manager of Derby County Steve McClaren looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium on October 05, 2013
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Burnley382112561313075
2Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381914552351771
3Middlesbrough37217948232570
4Hull City37199950232766
5Derby CountyDerby381713851351664
6Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds381614856362062
7Cardiff CityCardiff38151494941859
8Ipswich TownIpswich381610124644258
9Birmingham CityBirmingham371511114135656
10Preston North EndPreston381314113635153
11Queens Park RangersQPR381215114743451
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381212144651-548
13Leeds UnitedLeeds371114123745-847
14Blackburn RoversBlackburn381113143736146
15Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest381113143436-246
16Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38129175253-145
17Reading371112144243-145
18Brentford37127184859-1143
19Bristol City381110174058-1843
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham38116214462-1839
21Fulham38814165764-738
22MK Dons38910193251-1937
23Charlton AthleticCharlton38711203469-3532
24Bolton WanderersBolton38414203668-3226