Players and supporters delighted with Derby County's first leg advantage at Brighton

IT may only be half-time in the SkyBet Championship play-offs but it's advantage Derby County after last night's win at Brighton & Hove Albion. A Chris Martin penalty and a Tomasz Kuszczak own goal mean the Rams have a 2-1 lead going into Sunday's decided at the iPro Stadium. Striker Johnny Russell Tweeted his delight on social networking website, Twitter last night. "Thanks for the messages everyone great result massive game sunday now! Fans were unreal as they have been all season!! Safe trip home" he said, while Shaun Barker Tweeted: "Well done to the lads for getting a fantastic result tonight! Tough test that's only half finished." Former captain Robbie Savage Tweeted: Half time 2-1 to the rams fantastic position to be in! Well done lads!" Supporters, including One Direction singer Niall Horan, have congratulated Steve McClaren's side. Horan streamed the game onto a pair of curtains in Rio, where the band were playing a gig. He Tweeted: "Streaming the game and projecting it on the curtains , c'mon derby !" On the Derby Telegraph website, ellrams wrote: "Great result would have taken a draw before game. A win means Brighton need to attack from the off on Sunday which will suit our style of play as game will be more open. Not for one minute suggesting it will be easy game we will need to be on it but confident we will be cheering on rams at wembly COYR." There was even a cheeky message on Twitter from former England international and Match of the Day presenter, Gary Lineker. The Leicester City supporter, who began his career playing for the Foxes, Tweeted: "Looking good for the Rams. Must be so arduous though for our East Midlands neighbours to suffer the indignity of the playoffs."

Thanks for the messages everyone great result massive game sunday now! Fans were unreal as they have been all season!! Safe trip home

— Johnny Russell (@johnnyrussell27) May 8, 2014

Well done to the lads for getting a fantastic result tonight! Tough test that's only half finished.

— Shaun Barker (@barks5) May 8, 2014

Half time 2-1 to the rams fantastic position to be in ! Well done lads !

— Robbie Savage (@RobbieSavage8) May 8, 2014

Streaming the game and projecting it on the curtains , c'mon derby ! pic.twitter.com/puvmTPcSRZ

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) May 8, 2014

Looking good for the Rams. Must be so arduous though for our East Midlands neighbours to suffer the indignity of the playoffs.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 8, 2014