Derby beat Fulham to top Championship

Home News Premium Sports Betting Recomemndations Contact

Which Premier League club has gone 55 games without an English goalscorer?View more

26 Dec 2015

Derby County moved to the top of the Championship table as Tim Ream's unfortunate own goal set them on their way to victory over Fulham.

Johnny Russell was the source of the second-half opener when his cross created confusion in the penalty box and found the net via centre-half Ream.

And Jacob Butterfield's cool late strike sealed the win late on.

The result ensures the hosts go a point clear of Middlesbrough, whose game at Blackburn was postponed.

Derby, unbeaten in seven and chasing a third consecutive league victory, posed the greater danger before the break, playing with greater urgency and more cohesion.

But they were unable to create many clear openings against a Fulham side who have now gone nine games without a win.

Ince, who grabbed a hat-trick in the thumping win over Bristol City, was the most likely creator, dinking a great chance over the bar and also failing to connect with a long-range strike.

Although Fulham, who remain 18th but are now just three points above the relegation places, had less of the ball, the excellent Alex Kacaniklic twice forced saves from keeper Lee Grant.

Just as the visitors began to settle after the interval Derby went ahead on 52 minutes when Russell beat two men and his pull-back was turned in to his own net by Ream.

Both sides had chances after that with Russell opting to try to find Chris Martin when through on goal and Butterfield blasting an effort off target.

Ross McCormack had the London side's best opportunity but, after showing some neat skills on the edge of the box, he shot narrowly wide.

With the game increasingly open, Derby made the points safe on 84 minutes when Butterfield exchanged passes with Martin and just managed to beat keeper Andy Lonergan.

Substitute Darren Bent almost made it 3-0 in injury-time but his strike hit the bar.

Tom Ince had Derby's best two chances before the break but fired over when through on goal with his second opportunity

Paul Clement's Derby side are now unbeaten in seven

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Derby County

01 Grant
02 Christie
06 Keogh Booked
14 Shackell
37 Warnock
18 Butterfield
34 Thorne (Hendrick - 83' )
15 Johnson
23 Ince
09 Martin (Bent - 87' )
11 Russell (Weimann - 80' )

Substitutes

08 Hendrick
10 Bent
12 Baird
16 Pearce
24 Weimann
32 Shotton
35 Mitchell

Fulham

24 Lonergan
07 Fredericks
05 Stearman Booked
33 Burn
13 Ream
11 Kacaniklic (Christensen - 78' )
23 O'Hara (Smith - 63' )
28 Hyndman (Cairney - 71' )
03 Garbutt
44 McCormack
25 Dembele

Substitutes

04 Hutchinson
09 Smith
10 Cairney
12 Lewis
16 Woodrow
18 Pringle
21 Christensen

Ref: Scott Duncan

Att: 32,134

Match Stats

Possession 54 46

Shots

19 11

On target

1 4

Corners

4 4

Fouls

8 7

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 0.

90:00 +4:15 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 0.

90:00 +4:05

Attempt blocked. Darren Bent (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is blocked.

90:00 +4:02

Attempt blocked. Darren Bent (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Ince.

90:00 +2:51

Offside, Derby County. Tom Ince tries a through ball, but Andreas Weimann is caught offside.

90:00 +0:08

Attempt missed. Bradley Johnson (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jacob Butterfield.

88:20

Attempt missed. Luke Garbutt (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Moussa Dembele.

86:44 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Derby County. Darren Bent replaces Chris Martin.

86:04

Attempt missed. Chris Martin (Derby County) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cyrus Christie with a cross.

85:58

Attempt blocked. Jacob Butterfield (Derby County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

83:35 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Derby County 2, Fulham 0. Jacob Butterfield (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Martin.

82:57

Foul by Chris Martin (Derby County).

82:57

Richard Stearman (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

82:02 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Derby County. Jeff Hendrick replaces George Thorne.

79:07 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Derby County. Andreas Weimann replaces Johnny Russell.

78:42

Attempt missed. Matt Smith (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ross McCormack with a cross.

77:39

Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Lee Grant.

77:35

Attempt saved. Luke Garbutt (Fulham) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ross McCormack.

77:14 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Fulham. Lasse Vigen Christensen replaces Alexander Kacaniklic.

76:35

Attempt blocked. Cyrus Christie (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Ince.

74:06

Attempt missed. Ryan Fredericks (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Tom Cairney.

70:20 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Fulham. Tom Cairney replaces Emerson Hyndman.