Derby County entered into their match away at automatic promotion hopefuls Brighton and Hove Albion on Friday night knowing that they would probably need a win to keep their own play-off hopes alive.
With 10 matches of the campaign remaining, the Rams lie 10 points from sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday, but things didn’t go to plan for Steve McClaren’s men in the first 45 minutes on the south coast.
After just five minutes, they gave Seagulls winger Anthony Knockaert far too much space outside of the penalty area, and the in-form Frenchman duly found the bottom corner of the net with a fierce shot.
Then, just two minutes before the interval, the visitors gave themselves a mountain to climb when Sam Baldock added a second for the hosts.
When the half-time whistle blew, it’s fair to say that the County fans weren’t impressed with their side’s first half showing…
Some went a little too far though…