Gus Poyet's Brighton are now without a win in three as they played out a tame draw at Pride Park against Derby.

David Lopez forced Derby goalkeeper Adam Legzdins into an early save with an awkward free-kick.

Liam Bridcutt's deflected effort after the break was the closest the visitors came to a winner but it struck the bar.

Tomasz Kuszczak made two late saves to deny Derby's John Brayford and Craig Bryson as Gus Poyet's Brighton held on for a point.

Bogey side

Derby, who have now failed to score in their last four games against Brighton, have not beaten them at Pride Park since a 3-0 triumph in November 2004.

Brighton have now conceded just three goals in their last five away games, but their lack of victories since a five-match winning run ended in September will be a concern.

Lopez's free-kick was the first real chance of the game but despite bouncing right in front of the goalkeeper, Legzdins managed to save.

Paul Coutts pulled his 20-yard effort off target for Derby mid-way through the half before Stephen Dobbie, who replaced the injured Will Buckley in the first-half, then struck wide just before the break for Brighton.

Bridcutt hit a left-footed effort in the second-half from the edge of the area which took a wicked deflected but with Legzdins finally beaten, the ball came back off the woodwork.

Gary Dicker's corner was met by Dean Hammond but Legzdins parried away before Gordon Greer headed the rebound wide from six yards out.

Kuszczak then tipped shots from distance by Brayford and Bryson behind for corners before some late Derby pressure proved to fruitless.

Derby manager Nigel Clough:

"The two leading scorers [Derby's Jamie Ward and Brighton's Craig Mackail-Smith] were not on the pitch today and I would say that contributed to the 0-0 without a doubt.

"In games like that when they are so tight you need someone to do something a bit special occasionally and get you a goal from nothing and maybe there wasn't that player on the pitch to do that today.

"You are never overly satisfied with a point at home and a 0-0. But in the context of the week we've had, and the side we were up against, I thought it was a very good point."

Brighton boss Gus Poyet:

"I'm not saying we totally deserved to beat Derby but I think we were slightly better. I think we had the best chances and the best approach play and most of the ball.

"Of course there was danger at the end with the fans and the atmosphere but I am going home relaxed today, I like what I see.

"The basics were spot on today but we are missing Macca (Craig Mackail-Smith) too much."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Derby County

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 02 Brayford
  • 05 Buxton
  • 06 Keogh Booked
  • 16 O'Connor
  • 04 Bryson
  • 07 Coutts
  • 08 Hendrick
  • 19 Hughes (Jacobs - 46' )
  • 11 Robinson (Davies - 76' )
  • 32 Sammon

Substitutes

  • 30 Deeney
  • 21 Gjokaj
  • 12 Jacobs
  • 18 Davies
  • 09 Tyson
  • 20 Bennett
  • 23 Freeman

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 29 Kuszczak
  • 02 Bruno
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 28 Bridge Booked
  • 11 Orlandi (Hammond - 61' )
  • 18 Dicker
  • 21 David Lopez
  • 26 Bridcutt Booked
  • 30 Buckley (Dobbie - 34' )
  • 09 Barnes

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 05 Dunk
  • 14 Calderon
  • 04 Hammond
  • 25 LuaLua
  • 10 Dobbie
  • 23 Agdestein
Ref: Woolmer
Att: 22,059

Match Stats

Shots

4 11

On target

2 3

Corners

11 7

Fouls

13 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:41 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +3:13

Wayne Bridge fouled by Ben Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:29

Michael Jacobs concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam El-Abd. Tomasz Kuszczak takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:48

Bruno Saltor concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Jacobs. James O'Connor takes the direct free kick.

89:50

Corner from the left by-line taken by Michael Jacobs, save made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

88:16

Michael Jacobs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Bridcutt. Tomasz Kuszczak restarts play with the free kick.

79:31

Corner from the right by-line taken by Moreno David Lopez, Conor Sammon makes a clearance.

77:37

Corner taken right-footed by Michael Jacobs, clearance made by Tomasz Kuszczak.

77:12

Michael Jacobs takes a short corner, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

75:28 Substitution

Substitution Theo Robinson leaves the field to be replaced by Ben Davies.

73:10

John Brayford takes a shot. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak. Michael Jacobs decides to take a short corner. Craig Bryson takes a shot. Save by Tomasz Kuszczak. Short corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the right by-line.

72:21

Liam Bridcutt produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the target.

72:05

Foul by Craig Bryson on Adam El-Abd, free kick awarded. Adam El-Abd takes the free kick.

70:54

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gary Dicker, Dean Hammond takes a shot. Save by Adam Legzdins. Headed effort from close range by Gordon Greer goes wide left of the target.

70:28

Unfair challenge on Wayne Bridge by Theo Robinson results in a free kick. Wayne Bridge restarts play with the free kick.

68:40

Ashley Barnes challenges Theo Robinson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Coutts takes the free kick.

67:15

Free kick taken by Adam Legzdins.

67:15 Booking

Booking Wayne Bridge receives a caution.

67:00

Unfair challenge on Theo Robinson by Wayne Bridge results in a free kick.

66:30

Direct free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.

66:30 Booking

Booking Richard Keogh is shown a yellow card.

66:13

Richard Keogh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Dobbie.

65:13

Jake Buxton restarts play with the free kick.

65:13 Booking

Booking Liam Bridcutt receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

64:51

Liam Bridcutt challenges Richard Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick.

63:39

Craig Bryson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ashley Barnes. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

62:27

Wayne Bridge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Theo Robinson. Michael Jacobs takes the direct free kick.

61:43

Moreno David Lopez produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

60:09 Substitution

Substitution Dean Hammond comes on in place of Andrea Orlandi.

60:09 Substitution

Substitution Dean Hammond comes on in place of Andrea Orlandi.

55:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gordon Greer by Conor Sammon. Gordon Greer takes the direct free kick.

50:42

Stephen Dobbie takes a shot.

47:51

Short corner taken by Andrea Orlandi, Liam Bridcutt takes a shot. Corner from the right by-line taken by Andrea Orlandi, Stephen Dobbie challenges Richard Keogh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Legzdins.

45:22

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line to the near post, Adam El-Abd manages to make a clearance. Short corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Michael Jacobs replaces Will Hughes.

45:00 +1:15 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

43:45

Corner taken right-footed by Paul Coutts from the left by-line, save by Tomasz Kuszczak.

42:28

Shot by Stephen Dobbie from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

41:25

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Brayford on Liam Bridcutt. Adam El-Abd takes the free kick.

38:41

Andrea Orlandi fouled by Paul Coutts, the ref awards a free kick. Liam Bridcutt takes the free kick.

36:03

Gary Dicker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jeff Hendrick. Paul Coutts produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

35:22

Inswinging corner taken by Paul Coutts from the left by-line.

34:50

Ashley Barnes concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Keogh. Richard Keogh restarts play with the free kick.

31:45

Direct free kick taken by Paul Coutts.

31:45 Substitution

Substitution Will Buckley leaves the field to be replaced by Stephen Dobbie.

31:45

Liam Bridcutt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Bryson.

27:41

Close range headed effort by Andrea Orlandi goes wide of the left-hand post.

25:05

Liam Bridcutt fouled by Jake Buxton, the ref awards a free kick. Bruno Saltor takes the free kick.

24:04

Adam El-Abd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Coutts. Paul Coutts takes the free kick.

23:00

Centre by Moreno David Lopez.

22:34

Centre by John Brayford, Bruno Saltor makes a clearance.

22:15

Paul Coutts crosses the ball, clearance by Adam El-Abd.

20:34

Paul Coutts has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

19:57

Inswinging corner taken by Paul Coutts from the left by-line, clearance made by Gary Dicker.

17:28

Liam Bridcutt concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Bryson. Jeff Hendrick takes the direct free kick.

15:55

Ashley Barnes fouled by Craig Bryson, the ref awards a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Moreno David Lopez from the free kick, save by Adam Legzdins.

13:03

Centre by Moreno David Lopez.

8:02

Andrea Orlandi takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Moreno David Lopez, Andrea Orlandi has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

7:03

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Moreno David Lopez, Andrea Orlandi takes a shot. Blocked by James O'Connor.

4:20

Paul Coutts concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Bridcutt. Adam El-Abd takes the free kick.

1:59

Corner taken right-footed by Paul Coutts, Wayne Bridge manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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