Derby take top spot after grinding a victory at home to Cottagers

After moving into second place ahead of festive season, Derby County knew ahead of their kick off against Fulham that reaching the summit of the SkyBet Championship was in their hands.

Derby County [2] Fulham [0] - Attendance: 32,134

With prior to kick off leaders Middlesbrough’s match at Blackburn Rovers falling foul of the weather and recently toppled Brighton and Hove Albion drawing against Brentford in the early kick off, the Rams knew a win would put them back on top of the English second tier until the conclusion of Monday’s fixtures.

Paul Clement paid faith in the squad that beat Ipswich at Portman Road the week before with no changes meaning that in form Thomas Ince would be looking to get his fifth goal in three games. The Head Coach had briefly spent time in his education and rise at Fulham as a development coach.

Image copyright – DCFC Media

The first half was largely frustrating for both sides, but the away side were determined to be party-poopers and become only the second side to beat the East Midlands outfit at home since the start of the season. Swedish international Alexander Kačaniklić who was put through by the Cottagers’ talisman Ross McCormack tamely squeezed a shot at Grant early on before Derby had their first two attempts at their opponents goal with wingers Johnny Russell and Thomas Ince couldn’t find the back of the net but the Londoners held the Rams at bay and it was another clearer opportunity for Kačaniklić which stung the fingers of Lee Grant.

High possession for Derby was not being matched with the final touch as Ince had a great opportunity to break the deadlock when a deflected ball found the wideman in one on one with former Preston and Leeds goalkeeper Andy Lonergan but the ex-England Under 21 international clipped the ball too high over the bar.

Half Time: Derby County 0 Fulham 0

Paul Clement sent out his team with purpose to make amends for the exasperating first half, and an early spell of pressure by the away side was undone when Scotsman Russell weaved himself into the box and unselfishly drilled the ball across the six yard area, however it was deflected off the away side’s American defender Ream and into his own goal.

McCormack determined to get his side back into the match couldn’t beat Grant seeing his shot narrowly go wide.

Image copyright – DCFC Media

Further attempts rained up both the defences but Derby appeared unable to double their advantage and the Cottagers were finding the stubborn Rams defence holding strong. Once again, against the run of play, the clinical determination of substitute Jeff Hendrick who surged a run upon the wearisome legs before linking fellow midfielder Jacob Butterfield who played a neat one-two with Chris Martin before putting the ball beyond the approaching Lonergan.

The Rams could have made the result even more conclusive when fellow replacement Darren Bent struck a shot against the frame of the goal just seconds prior to the referee’s final whistle.

Full Time: Derby County 2 Fulham 0

Paul Clement said after this fixture he was satisfied with the result which saw his side reach the top of the Championship table at the half way point of the 2015-2016 campaign. The Rams have amassed 47 points from 23 league games this season, which is five more points gained than at the same stage last season and looking pretty content after only losing twice in that period.

Hard work certainly has been done on the training ground however it was the post Christmas slump which left Rams fans unhappy come May last season, so the players who were part of that will have to be warned against letting themselves fall.

Image copyright – Fred Gough

The statistics produced over the last few months under Paul Clement have proved very pleasing, along with an average of over 2 points per game gained, Derby can also boast that they are top of the scoring list and have best goal difference with 13 clean sheets kept so it would appear that they are on the right route to getting promotion at the third time of asking in the last few campaigns.

The East Midlands outfit travel to Leeds on Tuesday evening knowing that another similar result as this one can mean that they go into the turn of the calendar year ahead of a top of the table clash at Middlesbrough next Saturday above them.

Teams:

DCFC [4-3-3] – Grant, Christie, Keogh (y/c – 37), Shackell, Warnock, Thorne (Hendrick – 82) , Butterfield, Johnson, Russell (Weimann – 79) , Martin (capt (Bent – 87)) & Ince; Substitutes – Mitchell, Baird, Bent, Shotton, Pearce, Weimann & Hendrick.

Fulham –Longeran, Fredericks, Stearman (y/c - 21), Burn, Ream, Kačaniklić (Christensen - 78), O’Hara (Smith – 63), Hyndman (Cairney -71), Garbutt, McCormack & Dembele. Substitutes – Hutchinson, Smith, Cairney, Lewis, Woodrow, Pringle & Christensen.

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