Brighton vs Derby County Betting Tips and Predictions

Brighton vs Derby betting tips and Championship predictions for today’s Bank Holiday Monday fixture including the best odds for our three tips.

 

Derby are assured of a play-off place and the Rams could ensure that Brighton join them in the end of the season mix by beating them at the AMEX. We’ve got the best bets for the 14:30 kick-off today.

 

Brighton v Derby Preview

 

Brighton

David Davis’ goal will have been celebrated in Brighton on Friday as the Birmingham midfielder’s equaliser stopped Middlesbrough from taking all three points back to Teesside. The Seagulls face a showdown with Aitor Karanka’s men on the final day of the season and it could be a straight shootout for promotion to the Premier League. If Brighton can pick up maximum points here, they would go into the game with a two-point advantage on their rivals.

 

Chris Hughton’s side have been nothing short of sensational this season and they have merited their place in the top three. They have played scintillating attacking football and barring their blip around Christmas, they’ve kept it tight at the back. They’ve been particularly strong here at the AMEX, with just three defeats all season. Recently, they’ve picked up 22 points from a possible 24 and whether they gain automatic promotion or have to navigate the play-offs, they can hold their heads up high and it’s a huge pat on the back to everyone on the coaching team.

 

Pre-season, chairman Tony Bloom was confident his side could be promotion contenders, although not many agreed with him at the time. They were average last season and many pundits expected them to have another bottom half finish. They’ve won 15 times here at home and with the additions of key players, they have managed to keep their good form going throughout the season. Anthony Knockaert is a top notch loan signing whilst Jiri Skalak has added a different dimension to their play since his arrival. They will have a huge following next weekend heading North, but equally it should be a bumper crowd on the South Coast for this encounter with Derby County.

 

Hughton has labelled Derby as ‘tough opposition’ and Brighton have managed to more than match the teams around them this season. The only exception being their clash with Middlesbrough just before Christmas where they fell to a 0-3 defeat. He also confirmed that his side have the bottle for this final week of crucial fixtures and will be doing everything they can to book their place in the top flight.

 

Derby County

Derby will be disappointed not to be in Brighton’s position at this stage of the season. They were one of the pre-season favourites and were fancied by many to be sat at the top of the tree with Middlesbrough come May.

 

Paul Clement has since been dismissed after a run of poor results and Darren Wassall has guided the Rams to a play-off place. They missed out on the top six under Steve McClaren last season, so it’s an improvement, but it will be tightly contested final few games. They have spent plenty of money and surely have the most firepower in the league. Chris Martin, Johnny Russell, Tom Ince, Darren Bent, Andreas Weimann and Nick Blackman is an enviable front line for any Championship club, but Wassall can’t keep them all happy. Martin, Ince and Russell are the first choice three at the moment, but it was the veteran Darren Bent who rescued a point against Sheffield Wednesday last week.

 

Their away form is mixed this season with nine wins, seven draws and six defeats on the road. They have won each of their last two away matches though and are on a five match unbeaten streak. They’ve drawn too many games this season (14 in total) and that’s prevented them from making an assault on the top three.

 

Wassall has urged his side to keep the momentum going which is a relief to Middlesbrough and Burnley fans who might assume the Rams are content to settle for their play-off position. No team wants to go into the play-offs off the back of a couple of defeats and they’ll be doing everything they can to take the points here. Hull slipped up on Saturday and 4th place would mean a second leg home tie if they can clamber above the Tigers.

 

Team News

Liam Rosenior is hoping to be fit for the match after limping off during Brighton’s 3-1 win over Charlton. If fit, he is likely to be given a starting berth. Solly March, Bobby Zamora and Uwe Hunemmeier are longer term absentees who are extremely unlikely to feature again this season. Jeff Hendrick is back in training, but this match is expected to come too quickly for the Irish midfielder, who might be utilised during the play-offs. Bradley Johnson hasn’t featured since the play-offs, but may also be absent for this one. Lee Grant is a longer term absentee. Wassall will have to pick between his strikers after Darren Bent gave him plenty to think about with the equalising goal against Sheffield Wednesday.

 

Brighton vs Derby Predictions

This will be an extremely tough test for the home side, but I fancy them to come through it. They’re on a 12 match unbeaten streak and I expect it to continue here. My first Brighton v Derby prediction is for Brighton to win.

BRIGHTON TO WIN – 4/6 with William Hill.

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I don’t expect Derby to go down without a fight and I think they’ll get on the scoresheet and give Dunk and Goldson plenty to think about. My second Brighton v Derby betting tip is for Both Teams to Score? Yes.

BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE – 11/12 with 888Sport.

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Once again, Tomer Hemed leads the betting, but I’d prefer to take a larger price about Anthony Knockaert for my anytime score tip. The mercurial midfielder has a knack of finding crucial goals. My third Brighton v Derby prediction today is for Anthony Knockaert to score anytime.

KNOCKAERT TO SCORE ANYTIME – 3/1 with bet365.

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Brighton v Derby Betting Tips

Brighton win – 4/6 William Hill.

Both Teams to Score? Yes – 11/12 888Sport.

Anthony Knockaert – 3/1 Bet365.

 

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Jack Critchley

Jack Critchley

Jack is the resident Football League predictions writer here at thatsagoal.com, his expertise of the lower leagues brings regular winning football tips.
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