THE FINAL SAY
New Derby boss off to perfect start
Richard Keogh having to clear hurriedly from a dangerous Mo Barrow cross.
Reading again threatened when John Swift released Bodvarsson, but the Iceland striker’s tame effort was well smothered by goalkeeper Scott Carson.
As Derby were pinned back, Bodvarsson wasted a halfchance when shooting weakly at Carson.
Little was seen of Derby going forward, although Lawrence saw an on-target 20-yard drive deflected wide after he had seized on a mistake by Tiago Ilori.
Still Reading pressed, with Bodvarsson making a hash of a simple pass to Swift, who was unmarked and had a clear route to goal.
Derby offered only rugged resistance and Carson saved well from Kelly at the near post and also gathered a tame header from Ilori.
Derby emerged rejuvenated in the second half and thought they had gone ahead soon after the restart. Lawrence’s deflected cross found David Nugent, whose header bounced into the turf and past home keeper Vito Mannone.
But a flag had been raised for offside and it was immediately disallowed.
Reading deservedly went in front in the 52nd minute, when Barrow slung over a cross from the left and Bodvarsson climbed high to nod past Carson.
But the lead lasted only eight minutes. Mount let fly from 25 yards and Mannone allowed it to squirm through his grasp and into the net.
A point apiece looked to be on the cards, but Lawrence rose to head in Mason Bennett’s cross in the 94th minute.
It was the dream start for Lampard – and for Derby fans – as they plot a route back to the Premier League.