Clinical strikes from Jason Euell and Andy Roberts sealed the points as Wimbledon's Premiership march goes from strength to strength.

They made hard work of it at Selhurst Park, and had to watch nervously as Jim Smith's Derby wasted a host of chances, but that will not worry Dons boss Joe Kinnear.

Derby dominated for long periods and carved out some golden opportunities only to be hit by two killer blows.

Roberts smashed the winner through a crowded penalty area seven minutes from time after Paulo Wanchope had equalised Euell's first-half strike.

It was a relative goal-glut for these two teams who had ground out goalless draws in their last four encounters and Derby have still to win a league game at Wimbledon.

The win makes it 16 points from the last seven Premiership outings for Kinnear's unfashionable team who now go into a trio of league and cup games against his old club Spurs.

Giant Costa Rican striker Wanchope looked to have salvaged a point for the Rams with a simple header from a Tony Dorigo free-kick in the 67th minute. But, in a frantic finish, Wimbledon did the business in front of goal.

Smith had left last week's two-goal cup hero Deon Burton on the bench as Wanchope returned from suspension to join Dean Sturridge in attack.

It was a frenetic pace in the first half with both teams unafraid to throw players forward.

Derby enjoyed the best of the chances but could not find a finish. Sturridge's pace was, as always, a problem, but he was denied by some stout Wimbledon defending.

Stefano Eranio and Dorigo linked up well down the left early on but a low cross from the former Aston Villa, Chelsea and Leeds full-back was cut out.

Eranio shot wide when well-placed and Sturridge went close twice within a matter of minutes. He beat Neil Sullivan in a race to a long through-ball but was forced wide and, when he checked inside onto his left foot to shoot, the Scotland keeper had recovered to gather his low drive.

Sturridge marksman was then denied by a last-ditch tackle from Andy Roberts just as he looked certain to slide the ball past Sullivan and into the Wimbledon net.

In Derby's best move of the first half, Sturridge, Wanchope and Eranio all linked up before the Italian nursed a lay-off to Darryl Powell whose drive from the edge of the box flashed inches wide.

Wimbledon drove forward with their usual strength and speed but their clear-cut chances were limited before the break.

But Euell pounced in now-typical style to put the Dons ahead with his eighth of the season after a pass from Marcus Gayle. Apart from Euell's clinical finish, the Dons only had a Roberts drive, which was deflected over the bar, to shout about.

Derby had their skipper Jacob Laursen to thank moments before the interval, though, when he pounced to clear as Michael Hughes moved menacingly towards Mart Poom's goal.

Euell almost added another in a flashing Wimbledon break in the second half. The midfielder found Gayle with a great first-time pass and when the striker's cross was cut out by Horacio Carbonari, it dropped perfectly for Euell. This time his sights were just out, however, and his snap-shot fizzed within inches of Poom's left-hand post.

Teams

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Kimble, Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, C. Hughes (Ekoku 80), Roberts, Gayle, M. Hughes (Kennedy 88), Euell, Cort (Leaburn 73).

Subs Not Used: Jupp, Bakke.

Booked: C. Hughes, Perry.

Goals: Euell 8, Roberts 83.

Derby: Poom, Carbonari, Powell (Burton 86), Dorigo, Sturridge, Wanchope, Laursen, Prior, Carsley, Elliott (Harper 86), Eranio (Bohinen 68).

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Hunt.

Booked: Dorigo, Harper.

Goals: Wanchope 76.

Att: 12,732

Ref: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).