3/1 To Win
Florian Jozefzoon fired Derby County to victory in the final minutes against Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship to earn a fourth consecutive win.
The Rams made it two victories over the Tigers in five days and again it was Martyn Waghorn and Jozefzoon that found the back of the net in the 2-1 victory.
Derby looked strong again in the first-half, taking the lead thanks to a coolly taken penalty by Waghorn. However, the second-half saw a brighter Hull team that had found a way to assert themselves on the game.
Todd Kane found the equaliser for Hull who may have been thankful for a point after Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat, but Jozefzoon rained on their parade in the final minutes with a strike assisted by Mason Bennett, who had just come off the bench.
The Tigers made nine changes to the starting XI that the Rams faced in the midweek Carabao Cup clash, but the squad reshuffle did nothing to find a way past Derby’s backline in the opening half.
The Rams, who made three changes to Tuesday’s winning side, started off slower on Saturday afternoon against a strengthened Hull but remained in control.
Mason Mount came close to opening the scoring just after ten minutes, but his free-kick effort was just wide.
Waghorn was brought down in the area five minutes later and was furious when the referee failed to blow the whistle, as was the Rams boss. They didn’t have to wait long for the call to go in their favour after David Nugent was bought down by Jordy de Wijs, who had already received a booking,
Waghorn stepped up to the spot and calmly took his tally to two goals in two games. The forward directed his low effort into the bottom right corner to send David Marshall the wrong way.
Fraizer Campbell gave Hull their first chance of the match, but his low shot went wide of the left post.
Mount, following on from his fourth goal of the season on Tuesday, was again causing problems for the Tigers and his effort set off a couple of minutes for the Rams to pile on their offensive pressure.
After Waghorn turned a clever ball to him with his shoulder, the midfielder was clear to run towards the area. He let off a powerful left footed effort that forced a save from Marshall. The Tigers ‘keeper palmed it away for a corner, which Nugent got a looping header on that hit the woodwork. Moments later Scott Malone saw another great opportunity, but his curling effort was tipped over by Marshall.
Just before the break, the home side showed a glimpse of their attack but the Rams’ defence held strong and gave Scott Carson little to do. Stephen Kingsley battled with Richard Keogh down the right side and into the box, but the defender got in the way to block Kingsley’s shot. Bradley Johnson managed to knock clear an effort by Jarrod Bowen before Markus Henriksen fired a shot over to end the half.
The Tigers built up that momentum to start the second half and had found a way to match the Rams. Chances were exchanged in the opening minutes. First was an opportunity for Nugent after he got away from his man and latched on to a ball over the top, but he fired over.
Straight down the other end Bowen found the side netting. A much-improved Hull side soon found their answer. It came from Kane with a low strike across the goal that found the far corner after Evandro’s ball in behind.
Carson continued to be tested in the second-half and was called in to deny Henriksen and his backline managed to clear the defection as Campbell was ready to pounce.
Minutes before the final whistle, Jozefzoon continued his hot scoring streak and fired past Marshall to help the rams to their fourth consecutive victory heading in to the international break.
The winger was superbly set up by Mason Bennett who once again proved to be a lethal weapon off the bench and Jozefzoon finely slotted the ball in to steal the point from the Tigers and send the Rams home with all three.
WHO IMPRESSED...
Mason Mount has been instrumental to the Rams' strong start to the season and again ran the show against Hull City.
Though the goalscoring midfielder didn't find the back of the net on this occasion his maturity and skill on the ball no doubt help lift Derby to victory. He created his fair share of chances and was unlucky to be denied with a good save by Marshall. It was that shot that revved up the Rams' attack towards the end of the half.
Waghorn and Jozefzoon again did a fine job in showing Frank Lampard what they are capable of also with two goals in two matches for each.
UP NEXT…
The Rams will return to action following the first international break to face Rotherham United away on Saturday 15th September.
Back-to-back games at Pride Park Stadium follow, with Derby set to host Blackburn Rovers and Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship.
Hull City: Marshall; Kingsley, de Wijs, Burke, Lichaj; Kane (Toral, 87), Batty, Hendriksen (C), Bowen; Evandro (Dicko, 85); Campbell (Keane 73)
Unused Substitutes: Long, Stewart, McKenzie, Elphick
Derby County: Carson; Malone (Forsyth, 73), Tomori, Keogh (C), Wisdom; Mount, Bryson, Johnson; Jozefzoon, Nugent (Bennett, 87), Waghorn (Lawrence, 61)
Unused Substitutes: Roos, Holmes, Bird, Huddlestone
