Despite falling to a surprising defeat away at Fulham on Saturday, Derby County are still top of the Championship with 12 games of the season to go.

Steve McClaren's side were the first team to suffer defeat to the Cottagers in nine games as they went down 2-0 in West London.

They would have been glad to see their three nearest promotion rivals Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Bournemouth also drop points, but now Watford and Norwich City are hot on their heels.

Just five points separate the top six and it appears that it will be one of the closest-fought races for automatic promotion and the playoffs in recent memory.

Derby will be without both of their main strikers for the trip to The Amex, with Chris Martin still sidelined and now joined by Darren Bent on the treatment table. The latter, on loan from Aston Villa, might not play again until April after hobbling off at Fulham on Saturday.

That could mean a first start since mid-January for Johnny Russell and either the Scot or Jesse Lingard is likely to take up the lead striker's role through the middle.

The Rams' recent away record is iffy to say the least, with no wins in three and at least two goals conceded in each game after winning their previous three on the road without conceding.

Brighton will hope to take advantage of that as they chase a third straight home win.

The Seagulls' strong form at The Amex of late has seen them pull six points clear of the bottom three, but they do enter Tuesday night's game on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

Chris Hughton only has one new selection problem after right-back Bruno came off with a groin injury at the Macron Stadium, but his absence shouldn't be felt too much as Greg Halford is available again.

Brighton's recent record against Derby is poor - they've lost five in a row against the Rams, including both games during last season's playoffs.

Brighton:

Recent form: LDDWWL

Possible starting lineup: Stockdale; Halford, Greer, Dunk, Bennett; Ince, Kayal; Calderon, Teixeira, Baldock; Mackail-Smith

Derby:

Recent form: DLDWWL

Possible starting lineup: Grant; Shotton, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Mascarell, Hughes, Hendrick; Lingard, Russell, Ince

Sports Mole says: 1-2