Too rare home win provides much-needed lift for Rams
DERBY County entered the second half of their Championship campaign on a much-needed winning note by beating Bournemouth 1-0 at Pride Park Stadium.
The first half of the season had been painful and hugely disappointing. It has put the Rams in a battle at the wrong end of the table.
Headlines off the pitch concerning the protracted takeover of the club and non-payment of wages for some players and senior staff again provided a backdrop to the contest, but Derby made a headline on the pitch by taking the three points.
Krystian Bielik grabbed the winning goal in the first half and Derby had to dig in during a nervy end to the game, understandably given their situation and shortage of wins.
This was only a second home victory in 13 League fixtures and a continued improvement of their home form is a must if they are to climb away from trouble.
George Evans in for Martyn Waghorn was the one change to the team that lost to Rotherham United at the weekend.
Goalkeeper David Marshall was out for a second game as he recovers from a viral infection (not Covid) and Kelle Roos continued in goal.
Tom Lawrence missed a sixth match with his ankle injury. The Welsh international last featured in the goalless draw against Stoke City on December 12.
There was an open feel to the game from the off and good chances for both sides in the opening minutes. Kamil Jozwiak saw his header from close range pushed away by Asmir Begovic before a break by Bournemouth saw Jack Stacey whip in an inviting cross and Dominic Solanke failed to make a clean contact with the ball, fortunately for Derby.
Derby went into the game unbeaten against the top-four teams and the opening half-an-hour highlighted how more expansive opponents, rather than opponents that put men behind the ball, suits the Rams.
There was more space for Derby than in a number of home matches this season and there was certainy more snap and purpose about them than was seen against Rotherham.
The selection of Evans gave Derby the opportunity to go with three at the back, and wing-backs, which is a good tactic against Bournemouth and worked for the Rams when the teams met earlier this season.
Evans, Andre Wisdom and Matt Clarke formed the a centre-back trio and this allowed Nathan Byrne and Lee Buchanan to fill wing-back roles, which suits their games.
A high press from the energetic
Jason Knight and Graeme Shinnie gave the visitors little breathing pace and no time to settle. Derby were quicker to ball and this ruffled Bournemouth.
Buchanan was denied by Begovic after being sent clear before the Rams took a deserved lead after 32 minutes.
Shinnie swung over a corner and the ball dropped to Bielik, who gleefully swept it low into the net.
Bournemouth’s response was to make a double change for the second half and one of the substitutes, Josh King, sent a header straight at
Roos a minute after the break.
Solanke’s rising shot from an angle flashed into the side netting as the visitors went in search of an equaliser, while, at the other end, Begovic dealt comfortably with a couple of strikes from Byrne.
Derby have been desperately short of goals all season and they craved a second, with the cushion it would provide. They went close when Clarke’s downward header from Byrne’s corner was cleared off the line.
But Bournemouth stepped up the pressure, as was always likely, and Roos produced a brilliant save to keep out Lloyd Kelly’s header, diving across to his left to push the ball out to leave the visitors’ manager and coaching staff holding their heads.
Jack Stacey’s shot fizzed low across Derby’s goal and narrowly beyond the far post and the final whistle brought relief and understandable joy.