MATCH REPORT: Derby County 2-0 Preston North End

Derby County bagged their fourth Sky Bet Championship win on the spin with a 2-0 success over Preston North End at Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday night.

John Eustace’s side returned to action after the international break, looking to build on the momentum accrued after they beat Plymouth Argyle 3-2 at Home Park, following back-to-back victories against Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City at Pride Park Stadium.

After a closely contested and battling first period left nothing between the two sides, Craig Forsyth opened the scoring for Derby in the 47th minute from a corner, and Derby doubled their lead five minutes later through striker Jerry Yates from close range to seal the win.

Key Moments

The first chance of the game landed for Milutin Osmajić. The Preston striker claimed a loose ball and charged towards the Derby net early on, but Harrison Armstrong forced the striker wide which made the shot an easy save for Jacob Widell Zetterström.

The Rams were forced into a change inside the fourth minute as Kane Wilson replaced Ryan Nyambe, who departed due to an injury sustained during the first attack of the match.

Liam Thompson went into the book in the 14th minute for a strong challenge in a 50/50 tackle.

Some good play down the left between Yates and Callum Elder saw Derby looking dangerous. Elder played in Thompson down the flank, but the midfielder’s cross was collected by goalkeeper David Cornell in the Preston net.

Marcus Harness came close for Derby as he flashed the ball across the face of goal after Wilson swung an enticing cross in from the right flank in the 26th minute.

The game became tightened towards the end of the half, with both teams performing shutouts going into the break.

Derby came back out with a purpose in the second half, with Forsyth netting from a corner on the Rams’ first attack.

Elder’s delivery in from the right found Nat Phillips who headed the ball towards the penalty spot. Forsyth was the first to react but had his back to goal, so the defender turned well and struck the ball into the bottom right corner to give the Rams the lead two minutes after the restart.

Phillips and Elder linked up again to create Derby’s second goal just five minutes later. Phillips headed Elder’s cross into the path of Yates, who hit the ball first time from six yards out to double his side's lead.

Preston came nearest when Ryan Ledson tried his luck from 25 yards out but dragged his shot wide of Derby’s goal, while John Eustace made his first unforced change of the evening as the clock hit 68, as Thompson was replaced by Kayden Jackson.

Jackson made his presence felt in the dying moments of the game as he latched onto a ball over the top and hit a low cross which narrowly missed the toe of Yates.

A disciplined ending saw the Rams stay solid to claim three points and move out of the bottom three with seven matches remaining.

The Teams

Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Forsyth, Yates, Phillips, Thompson (Jackson 70), Harness (Goudmijn 90+1), Elder, Nyambe (Wilson 4), Clarke, Armstrong, Adams (C).

Substitutes Not Used: Vickers (GK), Langås, Barkhuizen, Mendez-Laing, Hendrick, Pieters.

Preston North End: Cornell (GK), Porteous, Meghoma (Brady 58), Lindsay, Keane (Riis 58), Frøkjaer, Ledson (C), Gibson (Evans 74), Thórdarson (Whiteman 58), Osmajić, Kesler-Hayden.

Substitutes Not Used: Stowell (GK), Storey, Hughes, Mawene, Carroll.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Assistant Referee: Carl Fitch-Jackson, Robert Hyde

Fourth Official: Gavin Ward