Ten-man Derby kept their promotion hopes on track as Marcus Tudgay's double secured a thrilling win against Brighton at the Withdean Stadium.

Rams skipper Ian Taylor was sent off just past the hour following an altercation with Seagulls striker Leon Knight.

But Tudgay converted Jeff Kenna's 72nd-minute cross to earn his side their third successive win.

Derby, who were forced to change into their all-black training kit before kick-off after referee Fred Graham felt their away kit clashed with Brighton's strip, took a 12th-minute lead when Grzegorz Rasiak released Morten Bisgaard, who opened his account for the club with a neat finish.

But 63 seconds later Mark McGhee's men levelled when Kerry Mayo sent in a perfect cross for Mark McCammon to celebrate his first goal for the club after completing his permanent move from Millwall earlier this week.

A calamitous error from Brighton's on-loan goalkeeper David Yelldell put Derby ahead at half-time.

The Blackburn shot-stopper dropped a cross from Tommy Smith straight at the feet of Marcus Tudgay, who made no mistake from close range two minutes before the break.

But another goalkeeping error, this time from Lee Camp, put the Seagulls back on terms as his clearance clattered straight at McCammon with the ball rebounding into the back of the net.

Derby then had to defend the last 28 minutes with only 10 men after skipper Ian Taylor was sent off for violent conduct.

But the drama did not stop there as striker Tudgay, only in the side for calf-injury victim Marco Reich, fired in his eighth goal of the season to clinch the points.

Rasiak had the first chance of the match, driving over the bar from 20 yards, while at the other end Richard Carpenter, who passed a fitness test on an ankle injury, had an effort blocked by defender Pablo Mills.

Tudgay opened the scoring only for McCammon to hit back almost immediately to set the tone for an exciting encounter.

Tudgay forced the first save of the game midway through the half when his shot was parried by Yelldell.

Poland international Rasiak was again at the heart of the action three minutes later as his curling shot was well tipped over the crossbar by Yelldell.

George Burley's men were making all the running and should have retaken the lead in the 29th minute.

Inigo Idiakez sent in an inviting inswinging corner for Tudgay to rise above the defence only to plant his header over the bar.

Carpenter fired over the bar from 30 yards with a rising drive, but County nearly scored again four minutes before the break.

Seagulls midfielder Daniel Harding was booked for a foul on Smith, and Idiakez's resulting free-kick was headed over by Rasiak, before Tudgay regained the lead for County.

Derby, buoyed by the dramatic end to the first half, made an impressive start to the second as Rasiak volleyed over the bar.

Smith fired over the bar just minutes before Taylor received his marching orders, but the Rams made light of their troubles as Tudgay struck his second of the game.

McCammon nearly scored his hat-trick in the final minutes which would have earned his side a point only for Camp to atone for his earlier blunder by making a crucial block.

Teams

Brighton Yelldell, Butters, Hinshelwood, Virgo, Mayo, Nicolas (Hammond 85), Carpenter, Reid (Hart 59), Harding (Jones 59), Knight, McCammon.

Subs Not Used: Watson, May.

Booked: Harding.

Goals: McCammon 14, 60.

Derby Camp, Kenna, Johnson, Mills, Huddlestone, Idiakez, Taylor, Bisgaard, Rasiak (Junior 79), Smith, Tudgay (Bolder 79).

Subs Not Used: Peschisolido, Grant, Boertien.

Sent Off: Taylor (62).

Booked: Huddlestone, Bisgaard.

Goals: Bisgaard 13, Tudgay 43, 72.

Att: 6,587

Ref: F Graham (Essex).