3/1 To Win
Derby County fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Peterborough United on Saturday afternoon.
Despite an impressive first-half performance from the Rams, second-half goals from Ephron Mason-Clark and Nathanael Ogbeta were enough to ensure that it was the Posh that claimed all three points.
Major Moments
The Rams started incredibly brightly and had the home side penned in their own half within the opening 10 minutes. Conor Hourihane whipped a couple of dangerous balls into the box that were inches away from connecting with a burgundy shirt as Paul Warne's men probed for an opener.
It was from a Hourihane delivery that nearly saw the Rams take the lead. His corner was met by an outstretched foot of Craig Forsyth but the defender didn't quite get enough connection on his effort and it fell kindly into the midriff of Will Norris.
Warne's side were dominant and missed a glorious chance to go ahead on 25 minutes. David McGoldrick did well down the right and picked out Hourihane who was bursting into the box. The Irishman had just Norris to beat from a tight angle but the keeper got down well to deny the midfielder.
Hourihane was incredibly involved in the first-half and was inches away from getting on the end of a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cross before Josh Knight cut it out at the last moment.
The Rams' dominance in the first-half forced the visitors into a double change at the break as Darren Ferguson looked to try and regain some control of the game.
It was a substitution that certainly had the desired affect as the Posh had their first opportunity of the game within the opening minutes and it nearly brought with it a goal. Nice inter-play between Jack Taylor and Jonson Clarke-Harris resulted in the former bending an effort just wide of Joe Wildsmith's goal.
Derby were punished for not making the most of their performance in the first-half when Mason-Clark opened the scoring five minutes into the second. The winger showed a burst of pace down the left to gallop into the box and fire an effort low and hard into the bottom corner.
Wildsmith then had to be at his very best with two stops in quick succession to keep the score at 1-0. First, he tipped over a Nathanael Ogbeta effort that was heading for the top corner before rushing out to deny Jonson Clarke-Harris from close range.
Wildsmith then pulled off his best stop of the day to deny Taylor. The midfielder had a cross-shot that looked destined for the top corner but Wildsmith tipped it brilliantly on the bar to keep the Rams in it.
Up the other end and Derby had a big appeal for a penalty waved away when Harvey White went down in the box but the referee waved away appeals immediately.
Substitute Tom Barkhuizen headed just over the bar following a lovely cross from fellow substitute Louie Sibley as the Rams looked for a way back but time was running out.
And with Derby pushing it was the hosts that were able to double their advantage through Ogbeta. Kwame Poku was able to weave his way into the box too easily before letting fly. Wildsmith saved his initial effort but Ogbeta was there to follow in and put the game beyond doubt.
The Teams
Peterborough United: Norris (GK), Knight (46' Butler), Kent, Taylor, Clarke-Harris, Mason-Clark (84' Jade-Jones), Thompson, Ogbeta, Burrows (46' Poku), Norburn, Ward (84' Thompson)
Substitutes not used: Blackmore (GK), Kyprianou, Tshimanga
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), Hourihane (73' Collins), Cashin, Bird (78' Sibley), McGoldrick, Mendez-Laing (66' Barkhuizen), Smith, Roberts, Dobbin, White
Substitutes not used: Sibley, Springett, McGee, Davies, Rooney
What's Next Up?
The Rams return home next weekend when they welcome high-flying Ipswich Town to Pride Park (3pm kick-off).
