Derby V Brighton at The iPro Stadium : Match Preview

10 May 2014 12:01
Derby V Brighton - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


McClaren warns against complacency

Derby boss Steve McClaren has warned his side the job is only half done ahead of Sunday's Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Brighton.


The Rams will kick off at the iPro Stadium with a 2-1 lead after top scorer Chris Martin cancelled out Jesse Lingard's opener with a penalty for his 24th goal of the season.


Martin then hit a fierce drive in first-half stoppage time which hit the crossbar and bounced in off unlucky home goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.


It means the Seagulls will have to make history if they are to book a trip to Wembley at the end of the month as no second-tier side has ever lost the home leg of a play-off and gone on to reach the final.


Derby have also beaten their opponents in all three meetings this season, but former England chief McClaren insisted: "Brighton are not out of this.


"We know they have a good record away from home and they made it difficult in the game we played against them.


"We've got to be on the front foot. We can't sit back and relax like we did in the second half, we've got to take our game to them, get the crowd behind us and the players have to fight to maintain this result.


"This tie's not over, we have to be better on Sunday. It will be a totally different game. The next goal will be crucial and Brighton have nothing to lose.


"They can take risks, but we want them to. We are very quick and decisive on the counter-attack."


Derby will check on Craig Bryson after the club's player of the year took a whack to his back towards the end of their first-leg win on the south coast but McClaren expects him to be available.


Brighton will take plenty of positives from their second-half display, as only the heroics of Rams keeper Lee Grant and the width of the crossbar prevented them from equalising.


Defender Inigo Calderon said: "The important thing is that we are alive going into the second leg and there's only one goal in it.


"They had a bit of luck and we didn't and you need luck in these kind of games. We hit the bar and they did as well, but their shot came off Tomasz and went in.


"We still have a chance and we will fight until the last second of the game.


"It's going to be more like the second half from the first leg. We've got to score one but they are going to play on the counter-attack. Hopefully it's going to be a good game for us."


Brighton have new injury concerns over Matt Upson (ankle) and Will Buckley (hamstring).


Midfielders Dale Stephens (ankle) and Andrew Crofts (knee) miss out again but right-back Bruno could return after a groin injury kept him sidelined at the Amex.


Source: PA