Three goals in a frantic second half saw Derby inflict a first home defeat of the season on Blackpool.
After an uneventful first 25 minutes in which neither goalkeeper was really tested, the game began to come to life.
Kane Wilson, playing as a right winger, had the first big chance in the 34th minute, the ball worked from right, Ryan Nyambe inverting and finding Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the left. He cut onto his right foot and whipped it to the back post, where Wilson was free, but the header was poor.
The Rams number two had another golden opportunity to score his first Derby goal with five minutes to the break. After being played in on the right-hand side of the box by Korey Smith with a great through ball, he dribbled across the box and around Daniel Grimshaw in goal before somehow putting his shot wide at the far post.
In between Wilson’s two misses, Jordan Rhodes had a chance on the volley at the near post. Wildsmith got a hand to it at full stretch down to his right to deny the Scottish striker, who has over 200 career goals in the EFL.
After Derby’s two huge chances, Blackpool had their best yet with two minutes left of half. James Husband put a left footed ball over the top for CJ Hamilton from inside his own half. Rhodes got on the end of it and put it over Wildsmith, but Cashin got across to put in a crucial tackle.
At the break, the game was goalless, but Derby had done well to nullify the threat of Blackpool, back under Neil Critchley this season. They just needed to apply the finishing touch.
Nine minutes into the second half, they did just that, and it came from an unlikely source, Korey Smith scoring his first competitive goal since 2017. Mendez-Laing found himself in space down the left after being played through by Max Bird, in the number ten role, with a nice pass. He got to the byline, drove inside with a trademark stepover and pulled it back for Smith, making a late run into the box, to fire into the roof of the net.
By the 69th minute, Blackpool were on top, Derby under pressure in their own box as the Tangerines pushed for an equaliser. Paul Warne opted to make a double substitution, bringing on Tom Barkhuizen and Conor Hourihane for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Max Bird, which soon had the desired effect.
Craig Forsyth’s long ball forward from well inside his own half was nodded down by Smith into James Collins. He returned it to the goal scorer who's neat backheel released Barkhuizen. The substitute slid the ball through to James Collins, who dinked it over Grimshaw as he rushed out of goal. A nice team goal within two minutes of the changes. Derby had some breathing space.
But that wouldn’t last much more than 90 seconds, Kenny Dougall getting away from Tyrese Fornah and putting the ball past Wildsmith, who was slow to go down, from 20 yards. Derby would now have to hold on.
With 12 minutes to play, there was an incredibly nervous moment for the travelling Rams, when Sonny Carey’s header hit the bar, and Derby then went up the other end. A reverse ball from Korey Smith saw Barkhuizen free. His shot saved by Grimshaw, and his follow-up header cleared off the line.
Derby held firm and restored their two-goal advantage on the counter in the 89th minute, Martyn Waghorn driving forward from the centre circle. He laid the ball right to Tom Barkhuizen, who kept going before finding fellow substitute Waghorn in the box to tuck it home.
It was a huge victory for Paul Warne’s side, which means they are now five unbeaten in all competitions. Travelling to a recently relegated side and being the first team to beat them at their own ground this season is no mean feat. Whilst the home form leaves a lot to be desired, the Rams continue to get results on the road, in this instance with an impressive performance too.
Curtis Nelson, facing his former club, and even more so Eiran Cashin were imperious in the air whilst Craig Forsyth and Ryan Nyambe were solid in the full back positions too. Nyambe looks an astute pick up based on his first three games in black and white.
Korey Smith had perhaps his best game in a Derby shirt, and Tyrese Fornah played well in the middle alongside him. Making his first start since an injury he picked up in August, Max Bird looked comfortable in a more advanced role, and it was good to see skipper Conor Hourihane back too.
James Collins worked hard up front as usual, and of course grabbed a goal, taking his tally for the season to five. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing set up the first and offered a direct threat down the left in his best performance of the season so far, as did Tom Barkhuizen when he came on, getting two assists against the club where he started his career.
Derby's next match is away to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, and it's worth noting that former Derby captain Curtis Davies won't feature after his red card against Fleetwood Town. Darrell Clarke will have to figure out who to replace Davies with, whilst Paul Warne may have a bit of a selection headache after so many good performances.
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