Delighted Gary’s left feeling Bry and mighty
DERBY signed off their home campaign with a comfortable victory over a disappointing 10-man Wolves.
David Nugent and Bradley Johnson had already put the Rams well in control before Ivan Cavaleiro was shown a first-half straight red.
Although Ben Marshall replied, the home side’s superiority was underlined by Craig Bryson 12 minutes into the second half.
Derby boss Gary Rowett said: “The attitude was excellent and we had lots of chances and there were a lot of good performances.”
The hosts found their rhythm quickly and dominated before taking an early lead.
Johnson was kept out by the underside of the bar in the seventh minute and Tom Ince scuffed a shot at keeper Harry Burgoyne two minutes later, before Nugent struck.
The former England striker’s downward header finished off Ince’s inviting cross in the 12th minute.
The Rams increased their lead 15 minutes later.
Johnson found Johnny Russell on the left and he crossed for the midfielder to score with a low shot from 15 yards.
Only a goal-line clearance denied Russell a third from a corner before Cavaleiro was dismissed for moving his head towards Johnson’s face after he had fouled him in the 33rd minute.
It was a moment of unforgivable indiscipline which left Wolves with a massive task and they almost conceded again when Russell hit the bar in the 43rd minute before Derby switched off in stoppage time.
Nouha Dicko found space on the right and crossed low for Marshall, who beat Scott Carson from eight yards.
But any chance of an unlikely comeback ended in the 57th minute when Derby again strolled through a static defence with Russell setting up Bryson who found the bottom-right corner from 14 yards.
Wolves boss Paul Lambert slammed £7million-signing Cavaleiro for his moment of madness.
He said: “He’s a talented footballer but I can’t sit here and defend it.” WELL ELD! Eldin Jakupovic denies Tadic from the spot late on
Dusan Tadic’s 89th-minute effort from 12 yards for Southampton was struck hard and true – and was destined for the bottom corner.
But the lanky frame of Swiss stopper Jakupovic had other ideas as he flung himself at full stretch to claw away the Serb’s strike.
And that was enough to earn what may still turn out to be a priceless point come the end of the season – one that could be worth its weight in gold for their miracle-worker boss Marco Silva.
Okay, so the Tigers are not out of sight in their scrap for Premier League survival.
But they might well be come this time next week with the pressure still cranked right up on their nearest rivals at the basement.
Following this goalless draw on the south coast, Hull stand three points clear of 18th-place Swansea, who face a tough trip to Manchester United today.
But perhaps more significant is that next up for the Tigers come doomed Sunderland – at their fortress KC Stadium.
The fact they have taken 19 points from a possible 21 at home under Portuguese coach Silva should make victory a formality against David Moyes’ Wearsiders,