G.M's Match Preview: Rams Must Savour Seagulls Challenge
Sunday, 1st May 2016 15:00 by George Martin

With a play off place secured Derby travel to Brighton who are chasing an automatic promotion spot.

Derby showed resilience and character in an entertaining game last time out to draw with fellow playoff contenders Sheffield Wednesday.

Derby will be hoping to continue the momentum they've gathered in recent weeks, but this will be a stern test compared to the quality of the opposition faced in recent games, especially away from home.

With George Thorne coming back into the reckoning and Bradley Johnson returning to full training, Darren Wassall will have a selection dilemma ahead of the trip to the south coast. Will Hughes has a number of minutes now under his belt and after a long time out he will definitely want to keep his momentum going.

Therefore the midfield three is likely to be Thorne, Hughes and Bryson. Butterfield may play on the left to assist defensively, but Ince's work rate to get back has greatly improved in recent months. He has now become more of a team player. Russell is likely to start on the right and although Bent scored a great header in the last game, Martin is likely to keep the lone striker role up front.

Wassall may also decide to bring in Buxton for Shackell and give Weimann more of a run out, but it's unlikely. It just depends on the knocks and niggles certain players have been carrying.

Brighton have one or two defensive problems in the lead up to the game. Liam Rosenior is battling to be fit for Brighton as he has suffered a back spasm in their last game, but he hopes to be available. Veteran striker and every Derby fan's good friend Bobby Zamora has been struggling with a hip injury while defender Uwe Hunemeier (groin) and midfielder Solly March (knee) are still out.

Many were very impressed by Brighton's performance when the visited the iPro earlier on in the season. They worked very hard, played good football and were very compact. However, there were defensive frailties when watching them recently on TV against Notts Forest.

Stock dale is a good goalkeeper while Bruno and Dunk are good at the back. Knockaert is a superb midfielder, who Derby should have gone for, and will be a live wire the whole game. Up front, Baldock knows where the net is and Wilson will be ready to come on if a goal is needed.

Chris Houghton is a good level headed manager. He has done a great job to get Brighton where they are and Derby would love to be in such a position.

Match Prediction:

Brighton have scored a load of goals in recent game and considering what is at stake, this should be an all out attack against Derby.

This will be a very big test, but one the Derby players should embrace.

However with a play off place secured and Brighton needing a win to put them in pole position for an automatic spot, I think Brighton will have too much for Derby.

Brighton to win 3-1.