A first-half strike from Martyn Waghorn was enough to help Derby County register their first home victory of 2023/24.
Waghorn notched his second goal in as many games on Saturday afternoon as Rams claimed a vital three points.
Key Moments
The Rams started incredibly fast and nearly found themselves with ana opener inside a minute. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst down the right and his ball across was inches away from connecting with both Martyn Waghorn and Conor Washington.
Waghorn had a huge appeal for a penalty waved away when he looked to have nipped in front of Ryan Broom before being clattered but the referee wasn't interested in his protests.
Jayden Stockley had the ball in the net for the visitors with their first forage forward and it was a fine finish at that but the assistant had his flag raised to deny the Cod Army.
Mendez-Laing's pace was causing all sorts of bother down the right in the opening 20 minutes and he got in behind into a promising position before scuffing his effort into the hands of Jay Lynch.
The Rams took a deserved lead soon after and it was Waghorn firing in his second goal in as many games. Washington's shot was scuffed and fell kindly into the path of Waggy who made no mistake, slotting into the bottom right corner from inside the area.
Fleetwood had a golden chance to level things up on the half-hour mark when Danny Mayor found a yard in the penalty area but he blazed high and wide over the goal of Joe Wildsmith.
The visitors then had another brilliant opportunity right on the stroke of half-time when Stockley rose highest to meet a cross but his header rebounded back off of the crossbar and clear to safety.
A huge scramble in the area nearly resulted in the Rams doubling their lead immediately after the restart. Conor Hourihane's corner was headed down and into a melee of players by Cashin and the ball somehow ricocheted kindly over the bar and out for a Fleetwood goal-kick.
Derby were proving dangerous from set-pieces and Liam Thompson fired a brilliant first-time volley that was well held by Lynch.
Fleetwood hit the upright for the second time as we entered the final 20 minutes when substitute Promise Omochere's header was brilliantly tipped onto the bar and over by Wildsmith.
The Rams stopper then had to be at his best once more to deny Junior Quitirna whose long range strike looked destined for the bottom corner but Wildsmith was equal to it to tip it around the post for a corner.
With just four minutes of additional time added on, Derby were able to hold on relatively comfortably and cement their first three points at Pride Park in 2023/24.
The Teams
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane (C), Cashin, Waghorn (76' Sibley), Mendez-Laing, Smith, Washington (62' Collins), Thompson (76' Elder), Rooney (82' Bradley), Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Bardell, Robinson.
Fleetwood Town: Lynch (GK), Johnston (77' Nsiala), Lawal, Robertson, Vela (C), Stockley (77' Patterson), Mayor (61' Quitirna), Broom (68' Omochere), Graydon, Rooney, Earl
Substitutes not used: McMullen (GK), Hayes, Asamoah.
Attendance
24,565 (233 Fleetwood Town supporters)
What's Next?
The Rams are back in action a week today when they travel to Cambridgeshire to take on Peterborough United in Sky Bet League One.
