Derby County have opened up a 2-1 advantage over Brighton & Hove Albion after seeing off their hosts in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final.
Jesse Lingard had given the home side the lead on 18 minutes after firing the ball into the top corner from eight yards, but Chris Martin levelled for the Rams from the spot.
The deciding goal came deep into added-on time at the end of the first half when Martin's 18-yard effort rebounded off the crossbar before hitting Tomasz Kuszczak and rebounding into the net.
Read below to see how the action unfolded at the AMEX Stadium.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the first leg of the Championship playoff semi-final between Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby County.
Well everyone, the time of the season where everyone's nerves are shredded into a million pieces is finally upon us. After 46 matches, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion have earned their opportunity to try to join Leicester City and Burnley in the Premier League next season. It's going to be a huge couple of weeks for all involved.
The match this evening will see the teams who finished in third and sixth go head-to-head. Like with every playoff tie, the lower-ranked side will play at home before the reverse fixture takes place at the opposing ground in a few days' time. That format is supposed to favour the third and fourth placed teams, but in the Championship, anything can happen.
The team news is beginning to come out of the dressing rooms at the Amex Stadium. Full details will be provided shortly.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION XI: Kuszczak, Calderon, Greer, Upson, Ward; Andrews, Forster-Caskey, Lingard; Orlandi, Ulloa, Buckley
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION SUBSTITUTES: Chicksen, Dunk, Ince, March, LuaLua, Mackail-Smith
Brighton manager Oscar Garcia has opted to name the same starting lineup that began Saturday's match at Nottingham Forest. It doesn't come as a huge surprise, but you have to wonder whether he considered replacing Tomasz Kuszczak after his horrendous error in that game. It would have been slightly harsh on the Pole, but it may have entered Garcia's thinking at some stage over the past few days.
DERBY COUNTY XI: Grant; Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Thorne, Bryson, Hendrick; Russell, Ward, Martin
DERBY COUNTY SUBSTITUTES: Legzdins, Whitbread, Eustace, Hughes, Dawkins, Bamford, Sammon
Derby County boss Steve McClaren has made six changes to the side that drew with Leeds United at the weekend. With a playoff place already secured, the former England coach decided to rest a number of his first team but they all return this evening.
When taking a look at each team's respective records at home and on the road, it's difficult not to make Derby favourites to come out on top this evening. Brighton have picked up just 10 wins from 23 fixtures at their home ground during the season, while Derby have won 11 games and lost just six during their time on the road. Both teams are pretty tight in defence, so maybe that is an indication that we won't see too many goals tonight.
To add to the theory that each backline might not be breached too easily this evening, both teams are unbeaten in their last six fixtures, with Derby winning their five in a row before making sweeping changes for the encounter at Elland Road on Saturday.
The regular league fixture between Brighton and Derby at the AMEX was played all the way back on August 10. The home side took an early lead before two goals from Chris Martin helped Derby seal the three points. Could the same happen this evening?
BRIGHTON KEY MAN! Leonardo Ulloa has been a revelation at Brighton since his arrival from Almeria at the start of 2013. During that time, he has scored 23 goals in 50 league appearances during a time where the main responsibility for scoring goals has been placed firmly on his shoulders. He has only scored four times in his last 11 matches but he proved on Saturday that he is a big-game player and he could be the man who gives Brighton a first-leg advantage.
DERBY STAR MAN! Remarkably, Jamie Ward hasn't netted since the turn of the year but his continued inclusion in Derby's starting lineup shows what an important member of the team he has been throughout the season. His energy in the final third is key when it comes to opening up space for his teammates and with the Rams likely to play on the counter-attack this evening, he could have a positive impact on the game.
We are less than 15 minutes away from kickoff. That must mean it's time for me to make my prediction!
PREDICTION! I've already alluded to the fact that each team's current good form could lead to a stalemate this evening, and when pushed, that's how I think the result will turn out. Both camps are likely to be nervous, and if there is a cautiousness among each sets of players, that could result in a 0-0 or 1-1 draw.
The two sets of players are beginning to congregate in the tunnel. They will be making their way onto the pitch shortly.
It's not a full house by any means at the AMEX, but the crowd that are present are creating a thunderous atmosphere. The pre-match handshakes are over with, and we will be underway in a couple of minutes.
Brighton win an early corner after a miscue from Craig Forsyth but the home side's attempts at a short corner is a poor one and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
Derby are being allowed no time on the ball by a team who are already thriving off the crowd's support. The home side get another cross into the box, but the Rams backline do well to clear.
Derby finally get on the ball for a prolonged period of time and their opening move concludes with Johnny Russell sending a teasing cross into the box that Chris Martin just fails to make contact with. We are yet to see a chance created by either team, but it's been a promising start.
BOOKING! The referee hands out an early yellow card to Inigo Calderon who slid in late on Craig Forsyth. It was probably a little harsh, but more than anything, I think it was a case of the official making sure that he makes his authority clear to each team.
Should Brighton have had a penalty? Forsyth and Calderon tangled inside the box, and it looked like the Derby defender instigated the challenge. The home side can count themselves a little unlucky there.
This has been such an high-octane start from Brighton, but so far, Derby are standing firm. Jesse Lingard and Will Buckley have looked particularly threatening for Oscar Garcia's team.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Derby County (Lingard)
It was coming, wasn't it? Brighton deservedly have the lead at the AMEX and Jesse Lingard, on loan from Manchester United, is the man who has got it. Inigo Calderon pulled the ball back from the byline and although Lingard's initial effort was blocked, he made no mistake with the second, sending the ball into the top corner from 10 yards.
CHANCE! It should be 1-1! A free kick was swung in from the left and Richard Keogh, who had lost his marker, failed to make connection with the ball from inside the six-yard box. He appeared to check his run at the wrong moment, and he was made to pay for it.
I couldn't have been more wrong when I suggested that there would be a slow start to this game. Brighton have been terrific, but they will struggle to sustain this pace for the 90 minutes. Derby are just trying to hang in there at the moment - their attacking players haven't had a kick.
Will Buckley takes the direct route for the umpteenth time and wins a fifth corner for his side. It's a decent delivery but Lee Grant comes to claim comfortably.
PENALTY TO DERBY COUNTY!
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Derby County (Martin)
Out of nowhere, we are back on level terms! As stonewall penalties go, this was right up there. Craig Forsyth surged into the penalty area before he was scythed down by Matthew Upson. Chris Martin stepped up to take the kick, making no mistake by sliding the ball just inside the post with the goalkeeper going the wrong way.
Derby are furious that Matthew Upson wasn't booked for that challenge, and they have a case. He got nowhere near the ball. If he ends up getting cautioned later in the game, I'm sure that Steve McClaren will have something to say on the matter.
CHANCE! A superb move from Brighton sees Stephen Ward released down the left-hand side and although his cross is deflected high into the air, Leonardo Ulloa meets the ball but his header is straight at Lee Grant.
BOOKING! Jamie Ward is the first Derby man to go into the book after barging into the back of Will Buckley.
Brighton think that they have a penalty shout when Leonardo Ulloa goes down under a challenge from Richard Keogh, but it's much ado about nothing. Keogh is right to look bemused at the efforts to win a spot kick from the South American.
Brighton get too confident with a series of headers between teammates on the edge of their own area and it lets in Craig Bryson, but his attempted lob clears the crossbar by several yards.
The action appeared to be petering out until half time before Brighton win a corner after the ball deflects out off Andre Wisdom. However, the referee quickly awards a free kick to Derby after a tussle between Ulloa and Buxton.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
GOAL! Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Derby County (Kuszczak own goal)
The Amex crowd are stunned - Brighton are behind in such unlikely circumstances. Chris Martin fired the ball on goal from 16 yards, and after his effort cannoned off the crossbar, it struck Tomasz Kuszczak and went into the net.
HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Derby County
The half-time whistle goes and out of nothing, Derby have the lead! They haven't forced Kuszczak into a save but a Chris Martin penalty and that own goal has given them the advantage. Oscar Garcia will be content with how his team have played, but they have it all to do in the second half.
Both teams have five shots apiece on goal, with the only efforts on target being the goals. Brighton have had seven corners without reply while completely dominating possession, but they are behind! I don't think that we have seen the last of the goals though...
Oscar Garcia has plenty of options on the bench, but I think that he will hold fire for now. His main focus should be on avoiding falling further behind at the start of the second half.
I was wrong. Brighton have made a change, but it's injury-related. Kazenga LuaLua has replaced Will Buckley, who was struggling with a knock during the first half. We are back underway.
Derby win an early corner after a Jamie Ward pull-back is deflected into the side-netting, but nothing comes from the set piece. A second one ends with the same result, but the visitors have retained possession.
Brighton make inroads for the first time since the break by winning a free kick around 40 yards from goal in a central position. The ball is played out to the right for Jesse Lingard but his cross is a poor one and Lee Grant claims.
BOOKING! Keith Andrews takes one for the team and stops Jamie Ward from surging towards the byline with men over. The Irishman isn't happy that he was left in such a situation, but he had little choice but to bring the move to an abrupt halt.
CHANCE! Brighton are beginning to warm to the task and they could have been back on level terms. The ball rebounded to Inigo Calderon on the edge of the area, but he sent his shot skywards.
We've just over 30 minutes left in what has turned out to be a pulsating encounter at the Amex. Brighton might be behind, but they aren't out of this just yet. An equaliser would make for a thrilling finale.
SAVE! What a stunning stop from Lee Grant! A cross came in from the left for Leonardo Ulloa, and although he didn't make full contact with the ball, it was enough to send the ball towards the corner, but the Derby stopper somehow managed to tip the ball onto the bar.
What I've liked about this match is that neither team have set out negatively. They aren't content with keeping it tight until the second leg, which isn't always the case in these types of games. Derby make their first change, bringing on Simon Dawkins for Johnny Russell.
The spring in Brighton's play has disappeared since the start of the game, and at times, they are content to allow Derby to hold on to possession. I'd say they are preparing a second wind before closing stages of the game.
Steve McClaren replaces the tiring Jamie Ward, who was on a yellow card, with Connor Salmon. Just before that, Solomon March replaced Andrea Orlani for Brighton.
We are into the final 15 minutes at the Amex and the home supporters are urging their team to bag an equaliser before the match is out. Derby have started to put a couple more players behind the ball - they are happy with what they have.
BOOKING! Solly March shows why he is so highly regarded at Brighton by winning a free kick out of Connor Salmon after twisting the striker inside and out. The Irishman was booked for his troubles.
SHOTS! Lee Grant is making a strong case to be named man of the match. After punching a Jesse Lingard shot clear, he is forced into action for a second time to tip Kazenga LuaLua's dipping attempt from just inside the penalty area.
Derby finally slow the match down by winning a free kick inside Brighton's half. The ball is worked out to the right and although a cross to the back post finds Connor Salmon, his header doesn't threaten the goal.
All of a sudden, this match is end to end, and Derby are starting to look the more likely to add to their tally. Connor Samon's cross is deflected wide for a corner, and although the resulting set piece is a threatening one, Brighton manage to bundle the ball clear.
The Derby supporters are singing "cheerio" to the home faithful. Surely they aren't leaving at this stage?! Madness. Two minutes plus added time to go.
There will be four minutes of added-on time.
Brighton win a free kick from 35 yards out after George Thorne goes in late on Kazenga LuaLua. What can the home side do from this opportunity?
The answer is... nothing. LuaLua's free kick is blocked. What a waste. Two minutes to go.
FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Derby County
The full-time whistle goes at the Amex Stadium and Derby County have hung on to record a vital 2-1 triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion. Both sides promised more goals than they actually scored, but the visitors will be delighted to take a 2-1 lead back to Derbyshire.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, with the match having a 5.15pm kickoff. As always, you can catch all of the action with Sports Mole.
That will be all from us tonight. Remember, as well as this tie, we are covering the other semi-final between Wigan Athletic and Queens Park Rangers, with the first of their two games coming tomorrow evening. We hope to see you then! Goodbye for now.
