Derby County returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic at Pride Park on Saturday.
An early penalty converted by David McGoldrick was enough to see the Rams a goal ahead at half-time, despite having plenty of chances throughout.
Eiran Cashin doubled Derby’s lead in the second-half after powerfully heading home Conor Hourihane’s free-kick.
The result sees the Rams three-points behind fourth placed Ipswich Town with a game in hand on the Tractor Boys.
Derby boss Paul Warne named three changes to his side that drew 1-1 against Lincoln City on Tuesday, with Spurs loanee Harvey White making his first start for the club following his deadline day move. Tom Barkhuizen and Louie Sibley returned to the side which saw Craig Forsyth captaining the side once more with the absence of Max Bird and resident skipper Curtis Davies on the bench.
Charlton also made three changes to their side which beat Forest Green Rovers 1-0 last Tuesday with deadline day signing Michael Hector making his full debut for the club, alongside the returning Macauley Bonne and Albie Morgan.
An early injury scare for the Rams when White went down holding his shin in the third minute after being caught by a high challenge by Sean Clare which saw the Addicks player receive the first booking of the game.
Moments later, Jason Knight had the opportunity to give Derby an early lead after being picked out at the back-post by Barkhuizen’s deep cross, but the Irishman could only fire into the hands of Maynard-Brewer.
With eight minutes on the clock a penalty was awarded to the Rams for a handball by Hector from Hourihane’s shot. McGoldrick stepped up and converted confidently down the middle to give Derby the lead.
Hourihane had chance to add a second goal in the 15th minute when he met Korey Smith’s floating cross, but his header was misguided over the bar.
Joe Wildsmith was called into action for the first time in the 15th minute as the Rams goalkeeper was alert to bravely rush out at the feet of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
White was growing into the game following the early injury scare in the third minute as he tried his luck from 30-yards out, unfortunately his left-footed strike narrowly swerved over the Addicks crossbar.
Barkhuizen received the Rams first yellow card of the game for a late sliding challenge in the attacking third on Charlton captain George Dobson.
A counter-attack for Derby was thwarted by Clare who brought down McGoldrick after he latched onto Hourihane’s lofted through-ball, with the Rams forward feeling he was unfairly denied a goalscoring opportunity.
A late chance in stoppage time of the first-half fell to Knight as he dragged his low-effort just wide of Maynard-Brewer’s far post, following excellent play by Barkhuizen to regain possession high up the pitch.
McGoldrick had the final chance of the half after being picked out by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. The Irishman controlled the ball with his chest before forcing Maynard-Brewer into a diving save at full stretch.
A bright start to the second-half saw chances falling to Derby just two minutes into the half with Hourihane troubling from a free-kick, before various half-chances called the Charlton backline into action.
Wildsmith was called into action for the second time of the afternoon as he was forced to palm the ball away to his left following Scott Fraser’s effort in the 49th minute.
Hourihane and McGoldrick linked up once more to create another chance to double the lead, however, McGoldrick’s header was wide of the target causing no threat to the Charlton goal.
Glorious play down the right-hand side by Mendez-Laing created the best opportunity of the game from open-play in the 64th minute, as the powerful winger beat his man allowing him to fizz the ball low into the area. However, the under-pressure Barkhuizen could not convert at the back-post.
Lewis Dobbin won the Rams a free-kick in the 68th minute, which saw Dobson go into the book.
Derby doubled their lead from the resulting free-kick as Hourihane delivered an inviting ball into a dangerous area, which was met by Cashin to powerfully head into the top corner.
Hourihane’s late stoppage time strike from outside the area forced Maynard-Brewer to get down quickly to ensure Charlton did not concede a third goal.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), Hourihane, Cashin, Barkhuizen (Dobbin 64), McGoldrick (Collins 78), Mendez-Laing (Springett 78), Smith, Sibley, White (Roberts 73), Knight.
Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Thompson, Davies.
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer (GK), Sessegnon (Penney), Dobson (C), Hector, Bonne (Aneke 66), Morgan (Payne 66), Rak-Sakyi, Fraser, Blackett-Taylor (Campbell 74), Clare, Ness.
Substitutes not used: Wollacott (GK), Kilkenny, Inniss.
The Rams will travel to Oakwell Stadium as they take on fellow promotion chasers Barnsley on Saturday, February 25 (3:00pm kick-off).
Words by Mitchell Barwell.
