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.
Allo 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...
DERBY XI: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Eustace, Bryson, Hughes; Ward, Dawkins; Martin
DERBY SUBS: Legzdins, Keane, Bennett, Bamford, Sammon, Whitbread, Hendrick
BRIGHTON XI: Kuszczak; Bruno, Upson, Greer, Ward; Ince, Andrews, Forster-Caskey; David, Orlandi, Ulloa
BRIGHTON SUBS: Brezovan; Dunk, Calderon, Chicksen, Agustien, March, Obika
Derby 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.
Speaking 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.
Like 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.
REFEREE 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.
We'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.
PREDICTION 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.
The 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.
When 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!
KICKOFF! Haines blows his whistle for the first time and we're off at the iPro Stadium.
The 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.
Little has happened since that early effort and there hasn't been a goal in the Championship at all yet.
UPDATE! 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.
Back to the iPro Stadium where Derby are knocking the ball around quite nicely but are yet to carve out an opening of any sorts.
Brighton have had a couple of free kicks in decent positions to whip it in but both Orlandi and Lopez sent in poor crosses.
BOOKING! The first name to go into referee Haines's book is Brighton skipper Greer for bringing down Dawkins from behind.
Twenty minutes in and we're still yet to have a decent effort on goal. Surprisingly cagey from these two so far.
SHOT! Moments later and there is a decent attempt from Ward but he can only curl it wide. Kuszczak didn't look too worried.
SAVE! 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.
BOOKING! Buxton is the first Derby name in the book after some needless time-wasting.
BOOKING! 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.
We'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.
Bruno flicks into the path of Lopez, whose cross in towards Forster-Caskey is bravely headed clear by Keogh.
#DCFCvBHAFC Match Action: #dcfc defender Craig Forsyth charges forwards from defence against #BHAFC: pic.twitter.com/qPP5s56QAH — Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 18, 2014
BOOKING! A fourth yellow card of the half is shown to Derby midfielder Eustace for a challenge on Forster-Caskey.
Three minutes of time has been added on at the end of the first period. Neither side has particularly deserved a goal.
HALF TIME: DERBY 0-0 BRIGHTON
Nothing of note in added time as both sides headed back to the dressing room looking a little glum after a poor half of football.
Check 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.
The 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.
Click 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.
Looks 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.
KICKOFF! 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!
Attendance: Today's attendance at the #iProStadium is 25,392 of which 1,390 are @OfficialBHAFC supporters #DCFCvBHAFC
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) January 18, 2014
The second half has resumed how the first started with flat football leading to a pretty flat atmosphere inside the iPro Stadium.
Orlandi'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.
DERBY SUBS: Double change for the hosts as Patrick Bamford and Jeff Hendrick come on for Hughes and Dawkins.
Dear 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.
Bamford shifts the ball onto his left foot and looks for Martin at the back post. He overhits his cross though.
BOOKING! Forsyth picks up the first booking of the second half for bringing down Bruno.
BRIGHTON SUB: Garcia makes his first change of the afternoon, with Orlandi off and Solly March on.
Derby 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.
DERBY SUB: Final change for the hosts as McClaren sends on another striker in Connor Sammon for right-back Wisdom.
GOAL! DERBY 1-0 BRIGHTON (BAMFORD)
The 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.
SAVE! 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.
BRIGHTON SUB: Garcia sends on new loanee Jonathan Obika for Forster-Caskey.
BRIGHTON SUB: Another change for the Seagulls, with Kemy Agustien on for Lopez.
BRIGHTON SUB: Another change for the Seagulls, with Kemy Agustien on for Lopez.
Superb cross into the middle by Andrews that's just too strong for Obika to get a toe to it and divert it goalwards.
As things stand, Derby will be closing to within four points of the top three. It will be their first win of 2014.
BOOKING! Martin charges into Greer and becomes the fourth Derby player in the book.
Four minutes has been added on for Brighton to try to find an equaliser.
BOOKING! Another yellow card for Derby striker Ward.
BOOKING! Another yellow card, this time for Brighton striker Ulloa.
FULL TIME: DERBY 1-0 BRIGHTON
Derby 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.
Derby 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!
Thanks 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.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
