3/1 To Win
Derby County were beaten 1-0 by Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship Semi-Final First-Leg at Pride Park Stadium.
A second-half goal by Kemar Roofe will give the Whites the advantage heading into the second-leg at Elland Road on Wednesday evening.
The Rams were denied a chance to equalise when a penalty decision was overturned. A penalty late on was initially given after Jayden Bogle was hauled down in the box, but the decision was overturned after a lengthy conversation with the linesman.
A tense opening first-half was played out with no clear-cut chances coming from either side, without a shot on target after a handful of shots each way. The Rams looked the most threatening in the opening stages with Tom Lawrence curling an effort wide from outside the area.
A minute late, Harry Wilson played David Nugent through in the area. The forward struck from a tight angle, but his effort was deflected behind by Gaetano Berardi.
From there, Derby’s defence was kicked into action as the Whites enjoyed a spell on the front-foot, however, the Rams’ backline remained strong.
Leeds’ best effort of the opening half came in the 12th minute when the ball fell to Jack Harrison outside the area, but he rifled his shot wide of the target.
Ten minutes after the break, Leeds took the lead when Roofe slotted in at the back post. Harrison whipped a ball in behind the Rams defence from the left to find the front man to break the deadlock.
Moments later, Roofe found himself in front of goal again. He turned to shoot, but this time he was denied by Kelle Roos.
The Rams had a good opportunity to equalise after Wilson was brought down by Liam Cooper on the outskirts of the box for a booking. Wilson’s free-kick effort was met by the wall and eventually cleared.
With just over ten minutes to play, the referee awarded a penalty to Derby after Bogle was brought down in the area by Harrison, but after a conversation with the linesman, the spot kick decision was overturned.
Derby County: Roos; Bogle, Keogh (C), Tomori, Malone; Mount, Johnson; Wilson, Holmes (Bennett, 70), Lawrence(Huddlestone, 86); Nugent (Marriott, 64)
Unused Subs: Carson, Jozefzoon, Evans, Macdonald
Leeds United: Casilla; Ayling, Berardi, Cooper (C), Dallas; Phillips, Hernandez; Forshaw (Shackleton, 23), Klich, Harrison; Roofe (Clarke, 80)
Unused Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Brown, Shackleton, Struijk, Gotts, Bogusz
