Ebou Adams opened his Derby account with a right-footed swerving half-volley to give Derby the win over Blackpool.
After the disappointing trip to Sixfields, the Rams were hoping that the game against the Tangerines would be more like the reverse fixture than the Carabao Cup first round clash, as they looked to get back to winning ways.
As well as a change in formation to a back four, with just two available centre backs, Paul Warne made four changes from the side that lost to Northampton. Korey Smith, Conor Washington, Joe Ward and Corey Blackett-Taylor came into the starting XI. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing captained the side, fit to start despite injuring his hamstring against Northampton and James Collins was back on the bench, having recovered from an injury which was previously feared to be potentially season-ending.
Blackpool were back in action for the first time in 13 days, following the international break, though Neil Critchley’s side would have to do without top-scorer Jordan Rhodes with the Scottish striker out injured.
Derby had a couple of early attacks, Kane Wilson doing well to win a corner inside the opening 90 seconds, but the first chance of real note fell the way of the visitors. Jordan Gabriel swung a good cross in from the right which Derby eventually cleared as far as Hayden Coulson, who volleyed over from ten yards out.
Joe Ward wasn’t far off for Derby after 18 minutes, whipping a left-footed ball which went just past Eiran Cashin and just wide of the far post.
George Byers had a great chance to give the Seasiders the lead in the 29th minute, shooting wide from close range after the ball was worked into him from the left, before Derby went up the other end with a good chance of their own.
Corey Blackett-Taylor got in behind down the left and played the ball back for Mendez-Laing who cut inside and shot, looking to curl it into the top right corner. Daniel Grimshaw made the save at full stretch to deny him, and Derby had a corner.
The ball was sent into Eiran Cashin at the front post. He got his head on it before a scrum ensued, with the ball trapped under the abundance of players. Blackpool were then awarded the free kick.
Ebou Adams was the one to break the deadlock after 40 minutes. A Derby corner was cleared, but worked back out to the right where Sibley crossed the ball in. A Blackpool player managed to head the ball out to the edge of the box, but that is exactly where the Gambian midfielder arrived, unleashing a venomous swerving half-volley into the top right corner.
Karamoko Dembele had the chance to equalise for Blackpool within 15 seconds of play resuming but couldn’t direct his shot on target. At the break, the Rams were ahead.
At the start of the second half, it was Blackpool who appeared to be in control. But Derby would have a good chance to double their lead in the 55th minute, breaking down the left.
Mendez-Laing hit a great ball over the top to play Washington in one-on-one, but his shot was saved by Grimshaw.
Blackpool continued to dominate possession as the second period progressed but failed to register many chances from open play, though Sonny Carey had a go from a free kick in the 71st minute, Joe Wildsmith making a strong save to push the ball away.
Into the final 15 minutes, Derby were on the front foot for the first time since the goal. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fired a low shot wide from just outside the box after patient build up play from his side.
With five minutes to play, Louie Sibley shot just over the bar from 22 yards out in the inside left channel after some superb play from Joe Ward. Derby had missed the chance to kill the game off.
Substitute Kyle Joseph had multiple shots blocked by Cashin and Nelson in stoppage time, and Carey volleyed off target from a similar position to where Adams score, as Derby held on for the win.
Analysis: Organised, spirited and gutsy.
Following the Northampton defeat, and with league leaders Portsmouth on the horizon on Tuesday night, this was a crucial game for Derby’s automatic promotion hopes.
The same theme that applied to the reaction after the Cobblers’ win is evident tonight: what a difference a week makes. The missed opportunity and lacklustre performance last weekend will be forgotten, to an extent, with the spirited display today. Add to that the fact that there was a draw for Bolton, away to Stevenage, and losses for Peterborough and Barnsley, and the general feeling around Derby is positive again.
There had been questions over how Paul Warne’s team would line up, given their extensive injury list. Due to this, and Sonny Bradley’s three game ban for violent conduct, there were only two first team centre back available, forcing Warne to switch to a back four, or shoehorn someone into his generally favoured back three.
Derby’s almost ever-present duo of Nelson and Cashin at the back were on form as ever, and continue to be one of, if not the, best defensive partnerships in League One. Around them, Warne put as many square pegs in square holes as possible in a 4-4-2 of sorts, as we called for in this week’s podcast, and it paid dividends.
Kane Wilson and Joe Ward combined well, the former starting as the right back, but often overlapping with bold charging runs, whilst the latter caused problems with his crossing ability. Wilson’s short corners were described as “magical” by Paul Warne, when discussing game management on BBC Radio Derby.
On the other side, Louie Sibley was quiet, but solid at left back, and in front of him, Corey Blackett-Taylor had perhaps his best game since joining the club in January, looking dangerous in one-versus-one situations in his natural left-winger role.
In midfield, Korey Smith worked hard, helping to facilitate Ebou Adams fantastic performance, superb both in and out of possession. He may have looked tired in the last 20 minutes or so, but his energy levels are remarkable considering he is fasting.
The Gambian will surely be Warne’s number one target in the summer regardless of the Rams’ division, having transformed the Derby midfield since signing joining on loan the end of January. As well as his excellent marking, tackling and range of passing, his outstanding work rate and spirited style of play were reflective of the entire team today.
With Derby still in need of “three or four wins” according to Paul Warne, it is these qualities that they will need to display again if they are to take something away from Fratton Park on Tuesday night., it is these qualities that the team will need to display again if they are to take something away from Fratton Park on Tuesday night.
Derby (4-4-2): Wildsmith (GK), Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Sibley, Ward (Waghorn 90+5’), Smith (Hourihane 83’), Adams, Blackett-Taylor (Thompson 70’), Mendez-Laing (C) (Fornah 83’), Washington (Collins 70’).
Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Robinson.
Blackpool (3-5-2): Grimshaw, Pennington, Ekpiteta, Casey, Gabriel (Hamilton 71’), Byers, Norburn (C) (Virtue 79’), Carey, Coulson, Dembele (Lavery 71’), Beesley (Joseph 71’).
Substitutes not used: O’Donnell (GK), Connolly, Kouassi.