Substitute Patrick Bamford scored a 75th-minute winner at the iPro Stadium as Derby County won their first game of 2014 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

After a low-key first 20 minutes, Jamie Ward drove past two defenders before sending a 20-yard effort just wide of the post.

At the other end, Matthew Upson saw his powerful header from a corner tipped over the bar by Lee Grant.

David Lopez then picked out Jake Forster-Caskey with a right-wing cross, but the youngster headed straight at Grant.

Steve McLaren introduced Bamford and Jeff Hendrick shortly before the hour mark as he looked to inject some spark into his side's play and with 15 minutes remaining, the change paid dividends.

Bamford picked the ball up 18 yards out and bent a shot into the far corner to net his first goal for The Rams since arriving on loan from Chelsea.

Leonardo Ulloa almost levelled within two minutes for the visitors when he swivelled in the box and sent a shot goalwards, but Grant was equal to it, and Derby held on to move within three points of the automatic promotion places.