Daily Mirror

RAMS ROO THE STEARMAN RED

Sending-off hurts Wayne’s battlers as they go down fighting

- Huddersfie­ld ROSS HEPPENSTAL­L

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HUDDERSFIE­LD stepped up their play-off claims after finally nailing Wayne Rooney’s crisis-torn Rams.

Derby defender Richard Stearman was sent off for a dangerous late lunge on Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien in the third minute.

But the Terriers couldn’t take advantage until the 75th minute when Derby old boy Duane Holmes’ 25-yard strike deflected past Ryan Allsop.

Four minutes later, Terriers substitute Jordan Rhodes added a clinching second, driving another knife through the heart of a Rams outfit who continue to show remarkable resilience in the face of adversity.

They have incurred two separate points deductions totalling 21 points and remain in administra­tion with the search for a buyer ongoing.

Yet despite their numerical disadvanta­ge for 87 minutes against a Huddersfie­ld unbeaten since November 27, their collective desire saw them again dig deep before their resistance was finally broken.

Stearman spent the 2020-21 campaign at the John Smith’s Stadium before being released and signing for Derby last August as a free agent.

His crude challenge on

O’Brien came after the Huddersfie­ld midfielder dispossess­ed Liam Thompson around 30 yards from goal.

As O’Brien advanced towards Derby’s goal, Stearman attempted to rescue the situation but his challenge was late and reckless, referee Matthew Donohue showed him a straight red card.

Highly-rated O’Brien, who Leeds attempted to sign last summer, was hurt by Stearman’s challenge but continued after treatment.

Huddersfie­ld went on to dominate for the rest of the first half, enjoying 72.2 per cent of possession.

Yet they struggled to test Allsop in the Derby goal.

Sorba Thomas’ free-kick was deflected just wide before Danny Ward twice failed to hit the target from inside the penalty box.

Huddersfie­ld supporters grew frustrated with their side and there was a smattering of boos when Donohue blew his whistle at half-time.

Derby grew in confidence as the second half unfolded but Holmes’ strike deflected off sub Krystian Bielik and over the unfortunat­e Allsop.

Carlos Corberan’s side then sealed the points when Ward expertly engineered the space to hit a low shot which Allsop saved before Rhodes swept home the rebound to take Town up to fifth place.

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