ROO SINKS TO ELL-FIRE
Harvey gives Wayne’s Rams relegation shivers
BLACKBURN
Gallagher 42, Elliott 42
DERBY
Lawrence 22
DERBY remain in deep relegation trouble after they chucked the lead away – and were wrecked by Harvey Elliott’s Blackburn winner.
Tom Lawrence headed the Rams in front in the 22nd minute after they had soaked up early pressure.
But they were pegged back three minutes before the break when Sam Gallagher pounced from a corner.
David Marshall made three key saves to keep out Blackburn’s top scorer Alan Armstrong at the start of the second half.
But he was unable to produce more magic as Elliott fired Tony Mowbray’s men ahead in the 66th minute.
It leaves Wayne Rooney’s careless strugglers just four points ahead of Rotherham with Paul Warne’s men having three games in hand.
The double the Millers did over Derby earlier this year is beginning to look increasingly important.
Lawrence nodded the Rams in front from close range when Graeme Shinnie picked him out.
Thomas Kaminski then held a deflected Shinnie shot from just outside the box after 30 minutes.
Patrick Roberts curled inches wide after he cut inside in the 37th minute as Derby grew in confidence.
But they were hit with a suckerpunch when Gallagher levelled for Rovers, heading home a Barry Douglas corner ( far left) in the 42nd minute.
Marshall was quick off his line to smother an Armstrong shot in the 58th minute, before the on-song keeper denied the Rovers man with a low save.
But he was unable to keep out Elliott’s powerful drive when Armstrong played him in.
It was a goal Derby could have avoided as Andre Wisdom gave the ball away following pressure by Gallagher.
Kaminski made a good save from Lawrence before Nathan Byrne hit the post from the rebound and the Rovers keeper saved a Colin KazimRichards header late on.