Craig Forsyth and Jerry Yates both scored at the start of the second half as Derby climbed out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over Preston at Pride Park.
After losing his opening three matches as manager, John Eustace has turned the Rams’ fortunes around and on Wednesday led them to a fourth straight victory to secure their longest winning run since July 2020.
Milutin Osmajic ought to have given Preston the lead with the very first attack of the game but Derby caught their opponents cold with a quick-fire double after a forgettable first half.
Two goals in four minutes courtesy of Forsyth’s opener and Yates’ eighth goal of the season dealt North End a sucker punch they could not recover from and took Derby above the dotted line for the first time since February.
Injury-hit Preston switched their attention back to the bread and butter and made five changes from their FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Aston Villa while Eustace opted for Ryan Nyambe over Kane Wilson with his only change.
Preston were gifted an opportunity to take the lead inside two minutes as Nyambe’s underhit back pass looped into the path of Osmajic but he aimed straight at Jacob Zetterstrom with a tame finish.
Preston shared more possession of the ball but neither side offered nothing by the way of quality in what was a lacklustre opening quarter to the game.
Derby were close to opening the scoring with their first real foray forward midway through the half as Wilson teased a ball into the area but Marcus Harness could only flash his header across the face of goal.
The visitors had an opportunity on the stroke of half-time when Callum Elder brought down Kaine Kesler-Hayden outside the box but the end product summed up a first period low on quality.
But it only took three minutes of the second half for the Rams to open the scoring.
Elder’s corner caused confusion inside the box but the ball fell kindly for Forsyth, who coolly dispatched into the far corner.
The hosts caught their opposition cold following the interval and doubled their advantage four minutes later through Yates’ first goal in eight games.
Elder once again provided the cross onto the head of Nat Phillips who nodded goalwards and Yates was waiting to divert it beyond David Cornell.
Preston went in search of an equaliser and thought they should have had a penalty when Phillips brought down Emil Riis inside the area.
However, referee Stephen Martin pointed for a corner which left Paul Heckingbottom with his hands on his head and a crucial three points handed to Derby in their fight for survival.
Chris Wilder labelled his side’s 2-0 win over Stoke a “proper away performance” as they got back to winning ways.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.An improved showing saw Sam McCallum, making just his eighth start of the campaign, score late in the first hal...
Goals from Sam McCallum and Andre Brooks ensured Sheffield United returned to winning ways with by beating Stoke 2-0.The Blades had seen their automatic promotion hopes ended after losing four of their previous five, including their last three matches away from Bramall Lane.McCallum had scored just one goal since his summer move from Norwich but popped up at the back post when Rhian Brewster&rsquo...
Partick Thistle stunned title-chasing Falkirk as Terry Ablade secured a dramatic 2-1 William Hill Championship victory in the eighth minute of stoppage time.Thistle were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes as Stuart Bannigan’s late challenge on Dylan Tait earned the midfielder a second yellow card.The hosts had taken a sixth-minute lead through interim manager Brian Graham’s 19th goal o...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Then & Now This Klopp seeing Slot can win the league with 80 points whilst he finished 2nd with 97 No, I won't. Real Madrid released a statement protesting the referee selection for Saturday's Copa del Rey final. Run Forest, run! In comparison Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, Bleache...
WHAT HAPPENED?The Sun has reported Arsenal are ready to make a significant move to bolster their defence with a bid for the Barcelona defender, who has played a crucial role in the Blaugrana's push to win the treble this season.THE BIGGER PICTUREKounde is under contract until 2027 and has established himself as a key part of the Barcelona defence. He has played 51 times in all competitions this se...
Paris Saint-Germain gave serious thought to signing Christopher Nkunku during the winter transfer window but ultimately chose not to move forward. Although he remained at Chelsea, signs now point to a possible departure this summer.Nkunku joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2023 for £52 million, but injuries and competition have kept him from locking down a regular spot in the starting lineup, ...
Ruben Amorim has said he is convinced that Manchester United can land their summer targets even after a disastrous season which could end in failure to qualify for European competition.United's hopes of reaching the Champions League rest on winning the Europa League. Even if they lift the trophy, Amorim's team remain on course for their lowest Premier League finish.The Portuguese coach is plotting...
Rashford urged to move to Newcastle by WrightIan Wright believes Newcastle United would be an ideal club for Marcus Rashford with his future at Manchester United in doubt.Wright told the Ringer FC podcast of a possible deal for Rashford: "It's the kind of signing Newcastle should be making. That would be amazing. That would be dangerous. Rashford at Newcastle? Yeah. That would be really good. I re...
Birmingham boss Chris Davies says the Blues should be very proud of breaking the 100-point barrier.Alex Cochrane’s winner after 75 minutes was hit from 30 yards and was perfectly-placed to find the corner and hand City a 1-0 win at Stevenage.And it takes them onto 102 points with three games remaining.“I’m very proud,” said the Birmingham boss. “Not many teams will ge...
Alex Cochrane’s superb long-range strike was enough to take League One champions Birmingham over the 100-point mark with a 1-0 win at Stevenage.The game was the perfect example of a clash of styles, Birmingham wanting to play it around, but Stevenage aiming to outwork them.Boro arguably would have been happier with their first-half showing, Jordan Roberts pulling a low shot wide of the targe...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Cole Palmer’s girlfriend Connie Grace dazzles in low-cut top and mini skirt
- 3 Man Utd & Man City join PSG in race for Akliouche
- 4 We always have a chance – Miron Muslic bullish as Plymouth boost survival hopes
- 5 Tottenham to compete with Man City for defender
- 6 Ten-man Falkirk beaten by Raith as late goals keep title race alive
- 7 Big Brother legend Chanelle Hayes flaunts weight loss in red bikini
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Daily Laugh - Totttenham 1-2 N Forest
- 10 Liverpool join race to sign attacker Jeremy Monga