Louie Sibley’s last-minute winner gave Derby a victory over stubborn Stevenage to boost their automatic promotion hopes.
With top scorer James Collins out with a knee injury, Derby lacked a presence up front, but Sibley finally found a way through in the last minute of normal time.
The victory moved Derby three points clear of third-placed Bolton and six points behind leaders Portsmouth.
It was Stevenage who came closest to scoring in a goalless first half.
Joe Wildsmith missed a corner and Sonny Bradley had to clear off the line in the 31st minute, and Wildsmith then rescued Derby soon after when the hosts failed to deal with a long throw and the goalkeeper stopped Jordan Roberts’ shot on the turn.
Derby did not register a shot on goal in the first half and they continued to struggle until Kane Wilson surged forward in the 68th minute and played in Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, but he fired wide.
Max Bird was denied by a superb Taye Ashby-Hammond save in the 77th minute, but Derby struck late on.
Mendez-Laing cut in from the right and set up Sibley who finished first time from 12 yards.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Wildsmith
- 35Nelson
- 5Bradley
- 6Cashin
- 24NyambeSubstituted forSmithat 63′minutes
- 8Bird
- 32Adams
- 20Elder
- 2Wilson
- 11Méndez-Laing
- 7BarkhuizenSubstituted forSibleyat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Hourihane
- 12Smith
- 13Loach
- 16Thompson
- 17Sibley
- 22Fornah
- 23Ward
Stevenage
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Ashby-HammondBooked at 84mins
- 2Wildin
- 15Vancooten
- 5Piergianni
- 3Butler
- 23ThompsonSubstituted forOliverat 90+3′minutes
- 10Freeman
- 8Forster-CaskeyBooked at 62minsSubstituted forBurnsat 72′minutes
- 11RobertsSubstituted forWhiteat 79′minutes
- 29HemmingsSubstituted forPressleyat 73′minutes
- 19Reid
Substitutes
- 6Sweeney
- 7MacDonald
- 12MacGillivray
- 17Burns
- 18White
- 20Pressley
- 33Oliver
- Referee:
- Tom Reeves
- Attendance:
- 27,055
Live Text
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Match ends, Derby County 1, Stevenage 0.
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Second Half ends, Derby County 1, Stevenage 0.
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Kane Wilson (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Harvey White (Stevenage).
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Ebou Adams (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Harvey White (Stevenage).
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Substitution, Stevenage. Vadaine Oliver replaces Louis Thompson.
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Goal! Derby County 1, Stevenage 0. Louie Sibley (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nathaniel Méndez-Laing.
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Attempt missed. Louie Sibley (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ebou Adams.
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Eiran Cashin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Harvey White (Stevenage).
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Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Callum Elder.
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Taye Ashby-Hammond (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Callum Elder (Derby County).
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Louis Thompson (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Louie Sibley (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Louis Thompson (Stevenage).
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Substitution, Derby County. Louie Sibley replaces Tom Barkhuizen.
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Foul by Korey Smith (Derby County).
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Dan Butler (Stevenage) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
