Brighton Hold Rams

Derby County and Brighton and Hove Albion played out a 0-0 draw at Pride Park in a game of few chances. Brighton kept hold of the ball at times and were difficult to break down when they did give possession away and neither side could find the breakthrough as the game ended goalless. Liam Bridcutt hit the bar a few minutes into the second half when his effort took a deflection and Adam Legzdins kept out a header from close range before Gordon Greer headed wide from the rebound. Derby finished strongly with John Brayford and Craig Bryson both bringing saves out of Tomasz Kuszczak but they couldn`t find the all important first goal as the sides had to settle for a point.

There were three changes to the Derby side with Adam Legzdins replacing the injured Frank Fielding in goal, James O`Connor replacing Gareth Roberts and Conor Sammon coming back into the side at the expense of Nathan Tyson. The sides cancelled each other out in the opening stages with Brighton keeping the wall well without troubling the Derby goal until David Lopez`s freekick brought a comfortable save out of Legzdins. Andrea Orlandi tried his luck from distance but was wide of the mark and Paul Coutts had The Rams first effort but dragged his effort wide of the mark after twenty minutes. Orlandi headed another effort over top before the end of a half of few chances.

The visitor`s came close to scoring not long into the second period when Liam Bridcutt`s effort took a deflection and struck the bar with Legzdins watching. Substitute Stephen Dobbie was then allowed to turn and shoot but his effort flew over the top and Lopez put his effort wide after some neat buildup play as Brighton started the half brightly. Gary Dicker`s corner was headed goalwards but Legzdins kept it out with a smart reaction save and Gordon Greer headed the rebound wide from close range. That near miss sparked The Rams into life and John Brayford forced a full length save from Tomasz Kuszczak with Craig Bryson also bringing the best out of the former Manchester United keeper with an effort from twenty-five yards that he tipped behind for a corner. Derby had the pressure on and where on the front foot in the closing stages but couldn`t quite find the breakthrough before the final whistle.

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