Match Report: Derby County 1-0 Blackpool

Derby County returned to winning ways on Good Friday thanks to a 1-0 victory over Blackpool at Pride Park.

A fantastic strike from Ebou Adams towards the back end of the first-half was enough to seal all three points and see the Rams tighten their grip on second in Sky Bet League One.

Key Moments

The first shot in anger went the way of the visitors when the ball fell kindly to Hayden Coulson inside the area but he blazed over first time on the volley.

Derby's first half-chance came courtesy of a teasing cross from Joe Ward which managed to evade everyone in the box before dropping just wide of Daniel Grimshaw's far post.

The visitors should have took the lead when neat inter-play resulted in George Byers being found free in the centre of the box but the midfielder skewed his effort wide of Joe Wildsmith's post.

Mendez-Laing forced Grimshaw into a fine save when he cut inside and bent an effort from the edge of the box which looked destined for the corner only to be denied by the fingertips of the Blackpool stopper.

Jake Beesley headed over following a cross from Hayden Coulson as both sides continued to search for the opener in a tightly contested affair.

The Rams took the lead before the break and they did so thanks to an outstanding strike from Ebou Adams. A cross from Louie Sibley was only half-cleared to Adams who struck a first time effort from the edge of the box which rocketed into the top corner beyond Grimshaw.

Derby had a big chance to double their lead after the break when a ball over the top released Conor Washington through on goal but the striker's effort was well held after he had been pushed wide by a defender.

The visitors looked to hit back through Sonny Carey who tested Wildsmith direct from a free-kick but the Rams stopper was sharp to get down low to his effort and turn it behind.

Louie Sibley was inches away from killing the game off as we entered the final 10 minutes when he struck from range but he saw his effort rise just the wrong side of the crossbar.

The Seasiders weren't giving up on their hopes of an equaliser and very nearly got one but for some last ditch defending from the Rams. A ball dropped kindly to substitute Kyle Joseph in the area and he saw two efforts blocked in quick succession, first by Eiran Cashin and then Curtis Nelson.

Six minutes of additional time were signalled as Carey blazed over a good opportunity for the visitors as they continued to search for that leveller.

But that was all they were able to muster as we entered the final stages of additional time and the Rams held on for a vital three points on home soil.

Attendance

30,089 (1,207 Blackpool fans)

The Teams

Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Wilson, Cashin, Mendez-Laing (83' Fornah), Smith (83' Hourihane), Washington (70' Collins), Sibley, Ward (90' Waghorn), Blackett-Taylor (70' Thompson), Adams, Nelson.

Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Hourihane, Robinson.

Blackpool: Grimshaw (GK), Gabriel (71' Hamilton), Pennington, Norburn (C) (79' Virtue), Byers, Carey, Dembele (71' Lavery), Coulsen, Beesley (71' Joseph), Casey, Ekpiteta.

Substitutes not used: O'Donnell (GK), Connolly, Kouassi.

What's Next Up?

The Rams return to action next Tuesday evening and it's a big one as they head to the south coast to take on leaders Portsmouth (8pm kick-off).