BEN GIBSON is hoping the experience gained from last season’s play-off final will prove crucial when Middlesbrough entertain Brighton in Saturday’s promotion decider.

Brighton play their penultimate game of the season when they host Derby County this afternoon, two-and-a-quarter hours before Burnley host QPR in their final home game.

With Boro currently a point clear of both sides following Friday’s 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, today’s results could see Aitor Karanka’s side heading into their final fixture knowing a draw will be good enough to secure promotion. However, even if Brighton and Burnley both win today, Boro will definitely be promoted if they win in five days’ time.

The final game has effectively turned into a one-match shoot-out, and while Boro were left heartbroken after failing in a similar scenario in last season’s play-off final, the lessons they learned from the Wembley disappointment could prove crucial this weekend.

“I think the Wembley experience will possibly make a difference,” said Gibson, who played alongside Daniel Ayala at the heart of the back four as Boro suffered a 2-0 defeat to Norwich City last May.

“It’s obviously a little bit different because it’s not the play-off final and it’s going to be at home. The squad is obviously a little bit different now, but for the lads who played in that game, we took a lot from it.

“I know personally that there are things I said afterwards I wish I’d done differently, and I’ll be bearing that in mind. You do learn things – it’s the same with every football match, but particularly with a really big occasion.

“You learn more from when you lose, so let’s hope we do use that to our advantage and use that experience. In those cup-final type games, anything can happen, and this is certainly a cup final. But I know which camp I would rather be in.”

The last 45 games have featured countless twists and turns, so it seems remarkable that Boro’s automatic promotion hopes will be decided by the final fixture.

The sold-out signs were posted at the Riverside weeks ago, and while Brighton have been on an excellent run in the last couple of months, Boro’s home record provides considerable cause for optimism.

Aitor Karanka’s side have not lost on Teesside since mid-January, and have recorded home victories against all the other teams in the top six.

The reward for one more success at the weekend could hardly be greater, and rather than being cowed by the importance of the occasion, Gibson has urged his team-mates to seize the opportunity to make history.

“I’d have snapped your hand off for this at the start of the season,” he said. “We’re a very good side, particularly at home, and we’re looking on it as another play-off final. I think we’re better equipped for a play-off final this season, and obviously the big factor this time around is that we are at home.

“It’s a sell-out, so what an opportunity to go and make history. We can make it an amazing season and an amazing day. It’s something we’re really excited about, and we’re fully focused on it now.

“Nobody in the dressing room is down because of what happened at Birmingham. We’re a little bit disappointed we didn’t win the game, but that’s only because we’ve got winners in the team and we didn’t quite manage to get over the line down there. But what an opportunity to get excited about.”

With so much at stake, handling the mental side of the game will be hugely important. There is a sense that Boro did not quite get things right at Wembley – for all that Karanka might protest otherwise, the squad’s delayed arrival at the ground surely had a negative impact on their preparation – but 12 months on, and the players and coaches should be much better equipped to deal with everything that will be thrown at them.

“I think the team that handles the mental side of things best will probably go up,” said Gibson. “It’s a big occasion. But I won’t be thinking about them (Brighton) – I’m thinking about us.

“If we do our job and play the way we can, particularly at home, then we’ll be fine. We need to handle the occasion, settle early and get into our stride pattern, which we probably didn’t do at Wembley. We’ve learned from last year’s play-off final, and if we take those lessons on board, we’ll win the game.”

Brighton boss Chris Hughton knows his side will be in the box seat if they beat Derby later today, and with the Seagulls having been given little hope of promotion at the start of the season, the former Newcastle boss claims there is more pressure on Boro and Burnley.

“There has probably been more expectation on some of the other teams,” said Hughton. “I haven’t felt there is a pressure on the players, but that might be because of how we’ve done it this season.

“I certainly haven’t felt it in the players. It’s almost been normal weeks for us, and normal weeks in the Championship can be two games in a week, all tough games. We’ve got a good blend in the squad and they’ve handled it very well.”