MX23RW : Saturday, February 22 06:10:19| >> :600:182648010:182648010:
May 8, 2014 at 7.45pm UK at ​Falmer Stadium
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion
1-2
DerbyDerby County
Lingard (18')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Martin (29' pen.), Kuszczak (45' og.)

McClaren hails Derby County character

Steve McClaren praises his Derby County players for showing the character to bounce back against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Derby County manager Steve McClaren has praised his side for showing the character to bounce back and secure a playoff semi-final first-leg victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Rams fell behind to Jesse Lingard's 18th-minute opener, before hitting back through Chris Martin's penalty and an unfortunate Thomas Kuszczak own goal to take a 2-1 advantage back to the iPro Stadium.

"Brighton came into the playoffs on a high and in the first 20 minutes they were quick out of the traps," McClaren told the club's official website. "They had a big crowd behind them and we expected them to put us under pressure.

"We didn't deal with those opening stages very well to be honest and conceded a poor goal. We came back and grew into the game and in the second half we had to be grateful for an impressive display in goal by Lee Grant.

"It took a lot of character to come back like we did and we'll need to show more of the same on Sunday in the second leg."

Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic meet in the other semi-final clash.

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Chris Martin of Derby County (R) celebrates scoring the 2nd goal with Jamie Ward during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off semi final first leg match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby County at Amex Stadium on May 8, 2014
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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool26251061154676
2Manchester CityMan City26173667293854
3Leicester CityLeicester26155654262850
4Chelsea2612594336741
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs2611784334940
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2610972824439
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd2610883829938
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2681263532336
9Everton26106103438-436
10Arsenal2671363634234
11Burnley26104123039-934
12Southampton2694133248-1631
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2687112440-1631
14Crystal Palace2679102332-930
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2669113138-727
16Bournemouth2675142640-1426
17Aston Villa2674153450-1625
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham2666143045-1524
19Watford2659122440-1624
20Norwich CityNorwich2646162448-2418

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