3/1 To Win
Matěj Vydra was the hero as his instinctive second half finish proved to be enough for Gary Rowett to claim all three points from his first home game in charge of Derby County.
The 24-year-old lively Czech Republic international forward reacted quickest to bury a rebound into the roof of the net – just reward for a controlled, assured and largely dominant performance against a Queens Park Rangers side that arrived at Pride Park Stadium as the Sky Bet Championship’s in-form side.
The Rams were indebted to the woodwork right at the end as Idrissa Sylla’s header bounced off the post, but Derby more than earned the three points as they returned to winning ways at the fourth attempt.
Nearly almost importantly, Derby produced another improved showing since Rowett took charge as manager just under three weeks ago now.
Following the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest prior to the international break, this was a tough proposition for the manager’s first home game in charge.
Ian Holloway’s side arrived at Pride Park having won five and drawn one of their last seven outings – and, early doors, they looked a very different side to the one the Rams faced at Loftus Road back in December.
This Hoops team clearly had more confidence about them to start with and lining up in their 3-5-2 formation and playing with a desire to keep the hosts quiet, Derby had little joy in their attempt to craft early openings.
The best of them fell to Johnny Russell. He screwed an effort from the left just wide, whilst he was also inches away from turning in the first of many teasing Chris Baird centres as the first half approached its midway point.
During this even period, Grant Hall’s tame left foot shot from a central position was the Hoops’ only effort on goal and shortly after that, Rowett’s men really began to hit their stride as they went on to finish half well on top.
Russell was denied by Alex Smithies after Vydra’s free kick ricocheted into his path, whilst David Nugent was also denied by the former Huddersfield Town shot-stopper and the lively Vydra delicately flicked another opening just wide.
Russell continued to be heavily involved. The 26-year-old wideman headed another precise centre from Baird wide of the far post and with time ticking, the Scotland international laid the ball on a plate for Nugent, who put his laces through a shot and sent it flying over the upright following a smart turn.
Before Derby eventually broke the deadlock, the second half followed a similar pattern.
Cross after cross and corner after corner, the Rams had been continually thwarted in their attempt to find the opening goal by a manful QPR that refused to buckle under pressure.
Derby, however, persisted and got their breakthrough with 20 minutes remaining as Vydra reacted quickest to Tom Ince’s shot being saved by Smithies to bury the rebound into the roof of the net for his third goal in four games.
That was the least the Rams deserved as they comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest to claim the three points.
There were two scares along the way. Carson, largely untroubled over the course of the night, had to push away an effort from Matt Smith, whilst Sylla hit the woodwork with a header shortly after, but there was to be no late fightback this time as Rowett marked his first home game in charge with three points, a clean sheet and another strong showing.
Derby County: Carson, Baird, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Bryson, Johnson; Ince (Hughes, 79), Russell, Vydra (Anya, 79); Nugent (Bent, 86)
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Christie, Butterfield, Camara
Queens Park Rangers: Smithies, Freeman, Bidwell, Hall, Onuoha (C), Washington (Ngbakoto, 69), Wszolek (Goss, 58), Smith, Perch, Furlong (Sylla, 76), Manning
Substitutes not used: Ingram, Mackie, Robinson, Petrasso
