Brighton 3 Derby 0

After the reversals at home to Newcastle and away at Nottingham Forest there were fears of the Albion choking but wins at Rotherham and last night over Derby dispelled them. The Seagulls were on cruise control and easily overcame Derby with a 3-0 win. One of the strengths of this side is the variety of goal scorers. Four strikers have reached double figures in goals and three of them Anthony Knockaert, Sam Baldock and Glenn Murray were on the score sheet last night. Playing on Friday puts the pressure on the closing pack though realistically Huddersfield are the only real threat.

Derby’s season has largely disintegrated since the New Year, their main problem being the scoring of goals, only 39 to date and way below the others in the top half. There were some Fulham fans, according to Alan Tanner, who felt you should not keep an unhappy player but to let Chris Martin got to Derby might have given them the striker they craved and be a threat to Fulham’s own ambitions. Another ex-Fulham and ex-Brighton striker Darren Bent toiled to little effect up front for the Rams with David Nugent and another forward Matej Vydra but none of them could make an impact on the Albion defence that no longer numbered Shaun Duffy. Duffy suffered a foot injury at Nottingham and unless Lewis Dunk is suspended – as happened last season ironically against Derby after he was carded – we won’t see him ( Duffy) again this season. Uwe Huenemeier deputised well.

The Championship is certainly a graveyard for managers. Alex Neil got Norwich both promoted and relegated and was the latest casualty last night. Derby have had Neil Clement, Nigel Pearson and now Steve MacLaren who left them summarily for Newcastle not so long ago. Chris Hughton has been at the helm for 3 seasons and taken us to one play-off and hopefully automatic promotion which shows the value of appointing carefully and then backing your judgement.