Malcolm Christie handed Derby a relegation lifeline as the Rams smashed their
Wimbledon jinx at Pride Park.
Christie, 20, making only the third Premiership start of his career in the
absence of the injured Branko Strupar, set up one and scored another in three
second half minutes as his side cast off their shackles and racked up only their
second-ever home win over the Dons.
Christie combined with Italian Stefano Eranio to carve out the opener for
Georgi Kinkladze after 68 minutes.
Kinkladze saw a gap in the visiting defence and struck a sweet left-foot shot
to Neal Sullivan's left.
Then Christie picked up Rory Delap's pass into the box and blasted the second
high to the other side of Sullivan.
Deon Burton, who replaced the injured Kinkladze immediately after Christie's
goal, hit the third in the dying seconds and amazingly there was still time for
Christie's late replacement Dean Sturridge to make it four.
It was the latest chapter in what is rapidly becoming a fairy story for former
supermarket worker Christie, who was plucked from non-league obscurity 18 months
ago.
Last week he had scored his fourth goal of the season at Sunderland and was
rewarded with a place as the Rams' loan striker today.
Kinkladze's opener was rich reward for Derby's start to the second half, in
which the Georgian had hit the bar and Seth Johnson saw a 30-yard effort tipped
over.
But Jim Smith's gamble on playing Christie alone up front appeared to have
been a failure in the first half.
Christie barely got a sniff against the towering central defenders Chris
Willmott and Hermann Hreidarsson as - with the exception of Kinkladze and the
probing runs of Delap - Derby toiled.
How Wimbledon were left to rue three narrow Carl Cort misses in the last five
minutes of the first half.
First the lanky striker's perfect header was well parried by home keeper Mart
Poom.
One minute later he connected with an Alan Kimble corner to flash another
header inches wide. And on 44 minutes he took advantage of a defensive mix-up
only to see his shot cleared at the death by Jacob Laursen.
Victory, which was imperative for the home side, took them to within a point
of the Dons and a huge leap closer to safety.
And Christie received a standing ovation when he was substituted for Dean
Sturridge two minutes from full-time.
Ironically Christie's goal came as Derby's playmaker Kinkladze was receiving
treatment on the touchline, clutching his left calf.
The Georgian had to be substituted immediately after Christie's goal.
But on a wonderful afternoon for the Rams, Kinkladze's replacement Burton
leapt to head home Seth Johnson's free-kick with a minute left.
And in injury time Stefan Schnoor raced down the left and crossed for
Sturridge, with his first touch, to make it four.
Wimbledon must hope John Hartson and Ben Thatcher - left out today by Egil
Olsen due to their lack of match fitness - are back soon or the signs are that
the Dons' Premiership odyssey will end at the same time as that of their former
owner, Sam Hammam.
Teams
Derby: Poom, Laursen, Carbonari, Elliott, Delap, Eranio, Bohinen (Schnoor 33), Powell, Johnson, Kinkladze (Burton 72), Christie (Sturridge 88).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Dorigo.
Goals: Kinkladze 65, Christie 71, Sturridge 90, Burton 90.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Andersen, Hreidarsson, Kimble, Ardley (Badir 72), Euell, Willmott, Lund, Cort, Gayle.
Subs Not Used: Heald, Earle, Waehler, Andresen.
Booked: Euell.
Att: 28,384
Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).
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