Marcus Harness’ first Derby County goal helped to secure all three points in the Sky Bet Championship as Derby County dispatched Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
Two quickfire goals from defender Curtis Nelson and on-loan Ipswich Town attacker Harness put the Rams in the driving seat early in the second period.
They held on to take their fourth win from five games on home turf in the Championship so far this term.
A steady start from both teams saw little in the way of clear-cut chances, but the Rams looked to build down the flanks as defender Ryan Nyambe was in position to cross on multiple occasions, but Rangers’ defence kept Derby at bay.
A strike from distance by Karamoko Dembele proved to be the visitors’ first opportunity in the 17th minute. The attacker struck a dangerous strike from 20 yards, but Rams goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström was on hand to make a stretching save and tip the ball over the bar.
Derby came close in the 21st minute as Nyambe again sent an enticing low delivery into the box, for Harness to latch onto, but QPR shot-stopper Paul Nardi got his body behind the ball to quash the danger.
Kenzo Goudmijn’s early ball towards the Queens Park Rangers penalty area nearly yielded the desired result as Rangers’ defender Jimmy Dunne’s attempt to hook the ball away sent it at speed towards his own goal, but Nardi was alert and grasped the ball.
The Rams were on the attack again moments later, and it was another delivery from the right flank that caused the issue, as Kayden Jackson found Craig Forsyth in position to shoot from the edge of the penalty box, but the Scotsman fired just wide denying his second goal in as many home games for Derby.
A tireless run from Jerry Yates and a one-two by Jackson found Mendez-Laing in position inside the area. The Guatemalan international flashed the ball across the face of the goal, but the deflection from a Rangers defender on the goal line sent the ball out for a corner.
Yates played Mendez-Laing in on goal a minute before the half-time whistle, but the Derby winger’s shot fired across the goal mouth and wide of the post.
Harness looked to keep the Rams building momentum going in the second half, as he cut inside and unleashed a strike that was put behind for a Derby corner.
The following corner was the one to make the difference as a superb towering header from Nelson, his second goal of the season, put Derby into the lead in the 54th minute.
Harness got his name onto the scoresheet moments later as tenacious pressing from Goudmijn and Jackson earned possession back from the kick-off. Jackson squared the ball to Harness who curled a shot beyond Nardi in the Rangers net for his first Derby goal.
Derby’s first change saw Kane Wilson take the place of Mendez-Laing in the 65th minute.
Wilson had an instant impact as he held the ball into the air towards the back post for Yates, but the QPR goalkeeper made a fine stop to deny the Rams striker a much-deserved goal at the far post.
Harness departed from the field in the 74th minute as Head Coach Paul Warne looked to solidify the lead with defender Nat Phillips taking his place.
Zetterström kept the visitors at bay a minute later as substitute Paul Smyth shot towards the bottom corner from inside the box, but the Swede was quick to get down and palm the ball away from danger.
An opportunistic shot from Rangers’ striker Michael Frey in the 85th minute looked to threaten Derby’s sixth clean sheet of the season, but the strike from over 25 yards out was sent far wide of the Rams’ goal.
Substitute Corey Blackett-Taylor was through on goal with two minutes remaining, but the attacker was denied by Nardi at the near post, while Zetterström performed a crucial stop in added time as Sam Field’s header inside the box looked certain to break Derby’s lines.
Derby were full value for the win, going into the international break with a victory and a clean sheet to their name.
Derby County Starting XI: Zetterström; Nyambe, Nelson, Cashin, Forsyth; Goudmijn, Adams; Mendez-Laing (C) (Wilson 66), Harness (Phillips 74), Jackson (Blackett-Taylor 82); Yates (Collins 82).
On The Bench: Vickers, Ward, Washington, Brown, Turley.
QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Cook (C), Field, Paal (Bennie 80), Madsen (Fox 62), Ashby (Chair 62), Saito (Smyth 62), Anderson (Celar 62), Dembele, Frey.
On The Bench: Walsh, Santos, Dixon-Bonner, Lloyd.
Referee: David Webb
Assistant Referees: Rob Smith, Richard Woodward
Fourth Official: Matt Corlett
29,305.
The October international break, which runs from Monday 7th until Tuesday 15th, means the Rams will next be in action for two away matches on the bounce on Saturday 19th October against Millwall (3pm kick-off) and on Tuesday 22nd October against Oxford United (7:45pm kick-off).
