Goals from Derby's Tommy Smith and Adam Bolder proved sufficient to secure a
Pride Park victory over Leeds and propel the Rams into the play-off zone for the
first time this season.
The hosts' three points hoisted them from eighth in the Coca-Cola Championship
table to fifth with 48 points having played 31 games.
Smith - who had laid the foundations of his own effort in the centre circle -
opened the scoring shortly after the hour before Bolder struck in the 90th
minute to guarantee Derby's first victory over Leeds for 18 years.
The first action of note occurred in the Rams' penalty box though as, with
just 10 seconds on the clock, United striker Michael Ricketts picked up a yellow
card after clattering Rams goalkeeper Lee Camp - who had advanced from his line
to collect a long ball from right-back Gary Kelly.
Camp was in action again shortly after the five-minute mark when a defensive
error from Pablo Mills gifted an opportunity to David Healy but the Elland Road
striker failed to test Camp.
Inigo Idiakez responded with a fierce free-kick fired from 25 yards which was
collected at the second attempt by Sullivan.
In the 15th minute, Rams skipper Ian Taylor forced a one-handed save from
Sullivan and from the corner, Idiakez hit the bar.
The Rams were soon moving forward again though and Smith's curling effort was
denied only by more heroics from Sullivan.
Seconds later, Grzegorz Rasiak could only head wide from an Idiakez flag-kick
and as Derby pressed again, Rasiak robbed Frazer Richardson, who had dawdled on
the ball near the byline. The Polish international cut the ball back to Marco
Reich - but he could only head over.
The Rams looked liveliest in the early stages of the second half but Reich
could only slice a right-footed shot wide after cutting in from his accustomed
position on the left wing.
Michael Johnson, on for the injured Richard Jackson, threatened his own goal
when he attempted to clear a Richardson cross from the Leeds left but instead
sliced the ball wildly across the face of his own goal and narrowly wide.
As the hour approached Camp needed two attempts to collect a shot from Healy
which had squirmed between the England Under-21 goalkeeper's legs.
Then, with 64 minutes gone, the hosts took the lead after Smith took
possession in the centre circle and spread the ball wide to right-back Jeff
Kenna.
The ball was returned to Smith in the Leeds D, with the Rams striker rounding
Clarke Carlisle, Sullivan and then Richardson to create the space needed to lash
the ball high into the roof of the net.
The victory was assured when substitute Bolder's 18-yard effort found the back
of the net after Sullivan was wrong-footed by a deflection off Richardson.
Teams:
Derby Camp, Kenna, Mills, Huddlestone, Jackson (Johnson 17),
Bisgaard (Bolder 88), Taylor, Idiakez, Reich (Tudgay 80),
Smith, Rasiak.
Subs Not Used: Grant, Junior.
Booked: Idiakez, Reich.
Goals: Smith 64, Bolder 90.
Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle, Butler, Richardson,
Wright (Walton 75), Gregan, Pugh, Joachim (Griffit 65), Healy,
Ricketts (Deane 69).
Subs Not Used: Harrison, Einarsson.
Booked: Ricketts, Gregan, Pugh.
Att: 25,648
Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).
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