Derby romped to a 5-1 victory over Championship basement side Crewe at Pride
Park Stadium.
Paul Peschisolido and Michael Johnson were on target for the hosts during the
first half before Tommy Smith bagged a brace and Inigo Idiakez also found the
back of the net after half-time before David Vaughan netted a spectacular
consolation.
The visitors had been under the cosh from the off as the hosts earned two
corners inside the opening couple of minutes before Seth Johnson fired a volley
across goal and wide from left to right.
Then, in the 10th minute, Derby took the lead when Idiakez floated a flag-kick
from the left and Danny Graham headed goalwards.
Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull got a hand to the ball but Peschisolido forced home
the rebound from close range.
Eleven minutes later and Johnson met another Idiakez corner, this time from
the right, with a diving header which brought Derby their second.
Into the second half and the Rams' advantage over their visitors was soon
increased as Graham sent Smith clear into the Crewe penalty area in the 53rd
minute and the winger made no mistake his the finish.
Just moments later there was another scare for the Railwaymen as Smith chanced
his arm from range and Turnbull palmed away the shot.
Derby were dominant by now and five minutes short of the hour forced a series
of three corners which ended with Alex forcing the ball out of the danger area,
only for Idiakez to blaze just inches over the crossbar from the clearance.
More Turnbull heroics were required to deny Seth Johnson from close range
before Smith ended the resultant penalty-box bagatelle by skying an effort from
10 yards out.
A rare foray forward by Alexandra ended with Mark Rivers denied by goalkeeper
Lee Camp inside the six-yard box before Derby broke again - this time along the
left wing through Lee Holmes who crossed to the back post.
First Graham's header was denied by Turnbull, who also saved the rebound, but
then Smith rammed home the lose ball to register his second and Derby's fourth
goal in the 63rd minute.
Smith was denied a hat-trick by Turnbull's athletic dive to his right and from
the following corner Smith was again denied as his header was cleared off the
line by Crewe substitute Ben Rix.
With 20 minutes to go Adie Moses was adjudged to have passed the ball back to
Turnbull with the Rams consequently awarded an indirect free-kick eight yards
from goal.
And after Smith had rolled the ball its circumference, Idiakez rifled the ball
into the roof of the net.
Vaughan pulled back a consolation for Crewe when he netted from 30 yards in
the 79th minute after a strike of such quality even home fans applauded.
Teams:
Derby Camp, Kenna, Michael Johnson (Jackson 72), Nyatanga,
Edworthy, Smith, Idiakez, Seth Johnson (Thirlwell 77), Holmes,
Graham (Bisgaard 80), Peschisolido.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Bolder.
Goals: Peschisolido 11, Michael Johnson 21, Smith 53, 63,
Idiakez 71.
Crewe Turnbull, Moss, Walker, Moses, McCready,
Gary Roberts (Rix 56), Billy Jones (Steve Jones 64), Bell,
Vaughan, Rivers, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Foster, Higdon.
Booked: Turnbull.
Goals: Vaughan 79.
Att: 22,649
Ref: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).