Once again, the Rams are preparing for their biggest match of the season so far, when they take on undefeated league leaders Brighton at the iPro on Saturday.

The Rams are currently four points behind Brighton, and two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough, which makes this match massive in the scheme of things.

If the Rams were to lose to Brighton, while Boro win their eminently winnable match against Birmingham, the Rams would find themselves seven points behind Brighton and five behind Boro. This would make the Rams job of finishing in the top two that bit harder.

If on the other hand the Rams beat Brighton, we are looking at Bristol City at home, Ipswich away, Fulham at home and Leeds away; all winnable games and the opportunity to be sitting pretty by the time Middlesbrough come to town in early January.

So what of Brighton? After nineteen league matches they have not tasted defeat and it would be hard to argue that they are not one of the best, if not the best team in the division.

Despite their seemingly impressive record, when you scratch the surface it is a little odd, that they consistently let in goals. Since the middle of September they have only managed to keep three clean sheets. On the other hand Brighton score goals with great consistency; like the Rams they are rarely shut out.

The Seagulls leading scorers are Tomer Hemed with six and Bobby Zamora with five (including goals in each of the last three); plus they have numerous other players who have contributed two or three.

Many of Brighton’s recent wins have been against mediocre sides with their last win, against a team most would consider strong opposition, against Hull in mid-September.

Brighton’s record speaks of resilience rather than brilliance; they will score at least as many as the opposition and have the ability to do what is needed to grind out a result.

What of the Rams? We can be reasonably sure that the Rams will not concede many goals; since mid-September we have had nine clean sheets in thirteen league matches.

For us, of course, the issue is much more one of whether we will be able to score and who will do it. There is certainly no immediate crisis as the Rams have been scoring consistently, but we are now up to six matches since Martin, Ince, Russell or Johnson put one into the back of the net.

Martin is especially worrying, who after a cracking start to the season, now has not scored in 6 matches - when he struck against Huddersfield in October.

Any improvement Paul Clement wishes to see will have to come from the same group of players who are currently struggling to get on the scoresheet. The other options available to the manager; Simon Dawkins seemingly will not be getting a game, Conor Sammon is not going to be recalled from exile, while neither Kwame Thomas or Mason Bennett are unlikely to be called up.

The only real questions are which two of Johnny Russell, Tom Ince and Andreas Weimann will be selected, and whether a place could be found for Darren Bent.

When your attackers hit a dry spell in terms of goals, all of a sudden the Rams are looking distinctly short of attacking options. This is surely why we have seen rumours this week of the Rams showing interest in Reading’s Nick Blackman, and Lewis Grabban of Norwich.

I have no idea how likely the Rams are to sign either of these players, or whether they would be the answer if signed, but the Rams must increase their attacking options when the transfer window opens in three weeks.

I am quietly confident of a win on Saturday. I think there will be goals, likely to be scored by both sides, but I think the Rams could well inflict Brighton’s first league defeat of the season to remain in touch with the top two places.

COYR!

Photo: Action Images

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