Matt Clarke and Marcus Harness struck in each half to help Derby boost their Sky Bet Championship survival hopes with a 2-0 victory over in-form Coventry on Frank Lampard’s return to Pride Park.
Lampard came back to Derby for the first time since he left the club in 2019 but the now Sky Blues boss suffered a setback with his new club in their quest for the play-offs with a first defeat in six.
John Eustace returned the winning feeling to Derby with a result over his former team Blackburn on the weekend and Clarke’s first-half header put them on course for consecutive wins for the first time since September.
Harness went from creator to finisher with his first goal since October as the Rams doubled their advantage at the start of the second half, which saw them move to within a point of safety.
Coventry came into the game off the back of nine wins from their last 10 and they were beginning to get a grip of proceedings early on – a piece of trickery from Milan van Ewijk to take two Rams defenders out of the game was a signal of just how confident the Sky Blues were feeling.
But, Derby had ambitions of their own to build on their weekend result and began to grow in confidence as the half went on, Liam Thompson’s crack from range sailed harmlessly over, though.
The relegation battlers stunned the visitors midway through the first half.
Derby were handed an opportunity to swing the ball in when Jake Bidwell brought down Ebou Adams. Harness sent a teasing ball across the six-yard box and Clarke was able to nod it past Oliver Dovin at the far post for the opener.
Coventry immediately had an opportunity to bite back from a set-piece of their own but Victor Torp’s whipped free-kick was easy for Jacob-Widell Zetterstrom to deal with.
Bidwell did not learn his lesson from his foul outside the box that led to Derby’s first, and he gave away a similar foul which put his side under the pump right at the start of the second period.
And Derby made them pay again as they doubled their advantage shortly after.
Derby recycled the ball and Jerry Yates was able to dig out a cross to Callum Elder. He saw his initial shot blocked into the path of Harness who was on hand to drill in his second of the season from close range.
Coventry looked to get back into the match, with Josh Eccles deciding to drill one from distance which few just the wrong side of a post.
The hosts naturally began to sit but Zetterstrom did not have much to do in the second half, although he had to be alert to keep out Ephron Mason-Clark in injury time.
[(Strasbourg) Strength]: 1. RC Strasbourg Alsace started with a 1-0 away win over FC Metz in the last Ligue 1 game. Facing FC Nantes in this game, they are motivated to take 3 points.2. RC Strasbourg Alsace were unbeaten with 2 wins and 2 draws in the last 4 games, showing fit form. They secured a 0-0 draw with Brondby IF in the last Conference League match.3. RC Strasbourg Alsace recorded 2 wins,...
[(Juventus FC) Strength]: 1. Juventus FC are undoubtedly motivated to start the new season with a home win in this game.2. Jonathan David scored first in the last warm-up match against Atalanta BC, helping the team secure a win.3. In the last two warm-up games, Juventus FC beat strong Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta BC, showing outstanding form.4. Juventus FC were unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 draw in...
[(AFC Ajax) Strength]: 1. AFC Ajax drew 2-2 with Go Ahead Eagles away from home in the last league match. They have achieved an unbeaten record of one win and one draw in two league games of the new season, maintaining a stable form.2. AFC Ajax's attack has maintained their excellent pre-season form, scoring 11 goals in the last 5 matches, with an average of over 2 goals per game.3. AFC Ajax's hom...
[(Atalanta BC) Strength]: 1. This match is the first round of the new Serie A season. Atalanta BC, playing at home, will strive for a win to get off to a good start, and their fighting spirit is beyond doubt.2. In a recent friendly match against Juventus FC, Lazar Samardzic scored a goal, demonstrating an excellent form.3. Atalanta BC have scored a total of 8 goals and conceded 11 ones in their la...
[(Udinese Calcio) Strength]: 1. Arthur Atta scored the opening goal for the team in the recent Coppa Italia match. He officially joined the club during the offseason, with Udinese Calcio spending 8 million euros to secure his services.2. Udinese Calcio won 2-0 over Carrarese Calcio 1908 in the first Coppa Italia match, welcoming the new season with good performances.3. Udinese Calcio scored 2 goal...
[(Villarreal) Strength]: 1. Villarreal started the new season with an away victory in the opening round, currently sitting near the top of the league table with 3 points. After finishing 5th in La Liga last season and securing a spot in European football, the Yellow Submarine aim to maintain their strong form this campaign. Playing at home in the Estadio de la Ceramica against Girona, the team are...
[(IK Sirius) Strength]: 1. IK Sirius have recently achieved three consecutive victories in all competitions and are in good form. In the last Svenska Cupen match, they defeated Pitea IF 5-0 and advanced to the group stage.[(IK Sirius) Weakness]: 1. IK Sirius currently ranked 12th in the league table. Facing 2nd-placed Hammarby, IK Sirius, who have been performing poorly, have little chance of winn...
[(Osasuna) Strength]: 1. Osasuna lost in the first round of the league and suffered a poor start. This time playing at home, Osasuna will strive for a win to boost morale and are highly motivated.2. Osasuna are strong at home, winning all of their previous four home games.[(Osasuna) Neutral]: 1. Osasuna have scored 6 goals and conceded 8 ones in their last 5 matches. The team's offensive performan...
[(Cagliari) Strength]: 1. Cagliari finished 15th in Serie A last season, taking 36 points, narrowly avoiding relegation by a 5-point lead. In the first home match of the new season, they will face powerhouses ACF Fiorentina. The team are motivated to take home advantage to start with a win.[(Cagliari) Weakness]: 1. Cagliari captain Leonardo Pavoletti will miss the first Serie A round due to his kn...
[(FC Lorient) Strength]: 1. FC Lorient returned to Ligue 1 this season as the champions of France Ligue 2, but lost their first game away from home. This time, they will strive to secure their first win of the season at home, and their desire to win is beyond doubt.2. FC Lorient have performed very strongly at home. Last season, in 17 home games in France Ligue 2, they achieved an impressive recor...
- 1 Ruben Amorim gives cryptic response when asked about Andre Onana returning to starting XI for Fulham clash after Altay Bayindir blunder handed Arsenal victory
- 2 'Victory Bodes Well for Future' – Gasperini Delighted with Roma’s Opening Day Win
- 3 TIPS - Eintracht Frankfurt VS Werder Bremen
- 4 Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal could turn to Lyon's Fofana
- 5 TIPS - Cerezo Osaka VS Vissel Kobe
- 6 TIPS - Gamba Osaka VS Yokohama FC
- 7 TIPS - Schalke 04 VS VfL Bochum
- 8 TIPS - Olympique de Marseille VS Paris FC
- 9 TIPS - Yokohama F. Marinos VS FC Machida Zelvia
- 10 TIPS - Hannover 96 VS FC Magdeburg