DERBY County will take a 2-1 advantage into the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Rams won at the Amex Stadium on Thursday night to move a step close to Wembley - and the Premier League.
Steve McClaren's went behind to Jesse Lingard's opener but Chris Martin levelled from the spot.
Then Martin's shot resulted in a Tomasz Kuszczak own goal just before the break.
Derby made a nervy start but Johnny Russell's low cross just evaded Craig Bryson after seven minutes.
Brighton had a penalty appeal turned down in the 11th minute when Inigo Calderon went down under a challenge from Craig Forsyth.
The home side went ahead after 18 minutes.
Will Buckley's flick released Calderon down the right and his cross was converted by Lingard at the second attempt, after Jake Buxton had blocked his initial effort.
Derby were level with 29 minutes on the clock.
Forsyth combined with Jeff Hendrick and surged into the area, where he was felled by Matthew Upson.
Referee Roger East pointed to the spot and Martin sent the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards to score his 24th goal of the season.
The Rams were galvanised and another ball in from Russell flashed across the face of goal before Kuszczak tipped away another centre from the Scot.
At the other end, Lee Grant had to be alert to keep out Leo Ulloa's downward header from Stephen Ward's deflected cross.
Derby went ahead in the second minute of added time.
Russell teed up Martin, whose powerful shot from the edge of the box crashed against the bar and went in off the diving keeper.
The Rams went close to a third goal within a couple of minute of the restart.
Hendrick's cross from the right reached Jamie Ward at the back post and his effort was parried into the side-netting by Kuszczak.
Brighton almost levelled after 61 minutes but Ulloa's volley into the ground, from Andrea Orlandi's cross, was tipped on to the bar by Grant.
Derby dropped deeper after the interval but managed to largely restrict the hosts in terms of chances, while trying to counter attack when the opportunity arose.
The Seagulls did go close twice in quick succession after 81 minutes.
Grant beat away Lingard's 25-yarder before brilliantly tipping over Stephen Ward's rising drive.
The Rams held on, though there was an injury concern as Bryson limped off in the dying moments.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: Kuszczak, Calderon, Greer, Upson, S Ward, Andrews, Forster-Caskey, Lingard (Mackail-Smith, 81), Orlandi (March, 70), Ulloa, Buckley (LuaLua, 46). Other subs: Brezovan (gk), Chicksen, Dunk, Ince.
DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh Buxton, Forsyth, Thorne, Hendrick, Bryson (Hughes, 90+2), J Ward (Sammon, 72), Russell (Dawkins, 66), Martin. Other subs: Legzdins (gk), Whitbread, Eustace, Bamford.
REFEREE: R East (Wiltshire).
