Derby manager Frank Lampard has warned his players they can forget about Premier League promotion if they produce a repeat of their dismal first-half display in the FA Cup defeat at Brighton.
County, who are chasing a play-off place in the Sky Bet Championship, found themselves two goals down in Saturday’s fifth-round tie at the Amex Stadium following a below-par opening 45 minutes.
“It’s the best lesson for the players in terms of what we have now, because we have 15 games in the league, all of them so important,” said Lampard.
“And if we perform as we did in the second half, we’ll have a real opportunity this year.
“If we perform as we did in the first half, then we don’t really have that opportunity this year.
“I was very clear in the (half-time) message. I told them in no uncertain terms.
“They’re not bad lads, it happens in football.
“I had those performances myself as player, you don’t mean to have them but sometimes you walk into them.”
Albion manager Chris Hughton hopes cup progression will have a positive impact on his team’s survival chances.
“We hope that some of this momentum can take us through what has been a difficult time for us in the league,” he said.
“At this moment the most important thing for us, however we get them, is getting the points we need.”
“It looks sore, I must admit,” Hughton said of Locadia’s injury
“We hope he’s OK, I don’t want to jump the gun but, of course, we know that Florin will be missing the Leicester game, so it leaves us short in that area.
“That is a concern.”
