Rams ready for Brighton battle

Derby boss Paul Jewell is warning his side they must be up for a battle when they take on Brighton in the Carling Cup.

The third-round tie on the south coast gives the Rams an opportunity to make it to the fourth round for the first time in eight years where they would be at home to League One Leeds United in the next round.

Derby go into the tie without centre-back Martin Albrechtsen, who has a hamstring injury, but the Dane could be fit for Saturday's trip to Reading, while leading scorer Rob Hulse is in the squad to face Brighton.

Rams boss Jewell told the Telegraph: "If we are are going to be successful, we have to roll up our sleeves and be prepared to fight. If we don't fancy it, we will get beaten.

"I have said to the players, if our attitude is not right, if our application is not right and our mind-set is not right, we will get beaten.

"I have been at Wigan as a player when the team-talk was 'listen, they don't fancy coming here because it is not a very nice place to come and play so let's make sure we take advantage of it.'

"Manchester City lost at Brighton in the last round, so we have to be right.

"Brighton have some good players and have a good manager. It is going to be a tough game and we will treat them with the utmost respect."