RELIEVED LAMPARD SALUTES HIS RAMS FIGHTERS
DELIGHTED manager Frank Lampard hailed the spirit in the Derby ranks after seeing his side notch a vital Championship victory against Wigan.
After a three-game losing streak, the stuttering Rams were desperate to get back on track, but it looked like it could be another one of those nights when Gavin Massey gave the Latics a 25th-minute lead.
However, Derby hit back in the second half. Mason Bennett levelled things up with a stunning volley just after the hour mark and Scott Malone netted a 78th-minute winner as the Rams drew level on points with sixthplaced Bristol City.
“When you’re in difficult form and things are going against you, it takes character and fight to get out of it,” said boss Lampard. “This is as proud as I’ve been this season.”
The previous night, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United played out a hard-fought goalless draw at Hillsborough.
Wednesday midfielder Sam Hutchinson had a good chance to win it, but shot straight at Blades keeper Dean Henderson.
The FA have begun an inquiry after objects were thrown onto the pitch during the game. A coin and a plastic bottle were thrown at United defender Jack O’Connell during the first half. In League One, Blackpool won 2-1 at Accrington Stanley. Matty Virtue (5 mins) and Jay Spearing (81 pen) netted for the Seasiders, while Luke Armstrong (23) replied for Stanley, who had keeper Dimitar Evtimov sent off on 83 minutes for throwing a bottle back into the crowd behind his goal.
Bury missed out on the chance to go top of League Two, drawing 1-1 at Cheltenham. Scott Wharton (13) put them ahead but Billy Waters (33) levelled.