Derby County made it back-to-back wins in all competitions thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One.
Goals in either half from James Collins sealed the victory for the Rams as they claimed all three points in Cumbria - with the striker moving onto 200 goals in club football following his brace.
The first chance of the game fell the Rams' way and it was the side's top scorer Martyn Waghorn who threatened to break the deadlock. Debutant Ryan Nyambe did well down the right to find Tyrese Fornah and the midfielder whipped a lovely ball into the box that was glanced wide by the head of Waghorn.
Nyambe and Fornah combined well again soon after with the latter finding Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who slipped Collins through into the area but the striker's effort was well blocked by a Blues defender.
The Rams were well on top and took a well deserved lead on 18 minutes through Collins. He started the move, flicking a header on towards Nathaniel Mendez-Laing before racing on to the winger's cut-back and firing excellently past Jokull Andresson.
After a dominant opening 20 minutes from a Derby perspective, the home side began getting a grasp on the game and very nearly levelled through Jordan Gibson. The midfielder let fly from range and his effort squirmed through the hands of Joe Wildsmith but fortunately for the Rams the ball cannoned back off of the crossbar.
Gibson looked a threat down the right for the hosts and fired inches wide of the post before then having an effort tipped around for a corner by Wildsmith while former Ram Luke Plange came close to levelling things right on the stroke of half-time as he hit the post with a shot from the edge of the box.
The Blues started the better after the restart and had a couple of corners in quick succession that were whipped into dangerous areas but well dealt with by Paul Warne's men.
Defender Eiran Cashin headed into the side netting with a great chance as the Rams looked to put a bit of breathing room between them and their opponents.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between in the second-half but the Rams were awarded a golden chance to make it 2-0 when Collins was felled by goalkeeper Andresson.
Collins stepped up and fired it brilliantly into the top corner for his and Derby's all important second goal, as well as hitting the 200 mark in club football.
And the number nine was inches away from the match ball when he chopped inside and bent just over from inside the box following great work from substitute Tom Barkhuizen.
It finished 2-0 as the Rams made it back-to-back victories and back-to-back clean-sheets in all competitions.
Carlisle United: Andresson (GK), Back, Armer (77' Robinson), Moxon, Lavelle, Huntington (C), Gibson, Guy, Mellish (69' Garner), Maguire (77' Edmondson), Plange (69' Ablade).
Substitutes not used: Holy (GK), McCalmont, Whelan.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), Cashin, Collins, Waghorn (61' Wilson), Mendez-Laing (80' Washington), Smith, Sibley (77' Barkhuizen), Fornah, Nyambe, Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Bradley, Elder, Robinson.
Derby County return to Sky Bet League One action at Pride Park Stadium a week today when they take on Cambridge United in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off).
