Rams Thump Terriers

Derby County returned to form after two disappointing performances as they easily brushed aside Huddersfield Town 3-0 at Pride Park. The Rams got back to their attacking best and sweeping moves in the firsthalf ended with Craig Bryson converting from close range and Jamie Ward firing into the roof of the net to put them two goals in front. Huddersfield briefly got back into the match at the start of the second period but the result was put beyond any doubt when Richard Keogh headed in a third from a Jamie Ward freekick. James Vaughan hit the post late on with an acrobatic volley but it was a rare moment of threat from a well beaten side.

Nigel Clough named an unchanged side and they started off on the front foot with Jamie Ward firing a shot towards goal but it was a comfortable save for Alex Smithies in the Huddersfield goal. James Vaughan threatened at the other end as he cut in from the left but his curling effort did not threaten the Derby goal. Oliver Norwood fired wide from a freekick before The Rams got back on top and Conor Sammon curled a twenty-five yard effort wide of the mark.

Craig Bryson`s effort from the edge of the area flew just over the top but the midfielder was not to be denied as he put his side in front on twenty-four minutes. John Brayford and Paul Coutts combined well down the right and the later drilled a low cross into the six yard area where Bryson had the simplest task of converting from close range. The Rams doubled their advantage nine minutes later with another flowing move, Sammon beat a defender before feeding Gareth Roberts out wide, the leftback clipped a ball into the area and Jamie Ward met it first team with his left foot firing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net. John Brayford nearly added a third before the break when his run forward saw his initial shot come back to him and he fired narrowly over with his left foot.

Murray Wallace replaced Peter Clarke at halftime and was first to a Norwood corner but his effort flew harmlessly over the top and Vaughan could only hit a post from close range but he flag was already up for offside to spare his blushes. Richard Keogh then put the result beyond any doubt when he firmly headed home from a Ward freekick from the right just before the hour mark. Vaughan hit the post with an acrobatic effort from the edge of the area but it was a rare moment for he visitors as Derby continued to dominate going forwards. Roberts fired over from the edge of the area and Jeff Hendrick sidefooted wide from a similar position after another quick break. Sammon and Paul Coutts could not find the target when chances dropped their way and Neil Danns fired over from close range with one last chance for Huddersfield who left the pitch well beaten by the final whistle.

Derby County: Legzdins; Brayford, Keogh, O`Brien, Roberts (Freeman 87); Coutts, Hendrick, Hughes (Jacobs 89), Bryson; Ward (Robinson 82), Sammon.

Subs Not Used: Fielding, O`Connor, Davies, Doyle.

Huddersfield Town: Smithies; Woods, Gerrard, Clarke (Wallace 46), Hunt; Norwood (Lee 78), Arfield, Danns, Clayton; Novak (Scannell 54), Vaughan.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Dixon, Gobern, Sinnott.

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco