Dwight Yorke gave Aston Villa a massive boost in their bid to move away from
the relegation zone with a late winner which shattered Derby County's unbeaten
home Premiership record.
The Trinidad and Tobago striker struck two minutes from time after Derby
keeper Martin Poom had been unable to hold onto a fierce drive from Ugo Ehiogu.
It was only their second win in eight matches - and in the process dealt a
massive blow to Derby's hopes of securing a place in Europe via a top six
placing.
Villa's previous away match ended in humiliation when they were hammered 5-0
by Blackburn in a match overshadowed by the Savo Milosevic spitting affair.
Manager Brian Little was angry at the way his side threw in the towel in that
match and defeat at home to Newcastle last weekend merely added to their fears
of the drop.
But Villa recaptured their pride with a gritty performance - with Yorke
putting the icing on the cake with his late winner.
It was hardly a game that will stay in the memory and the number of clearcut
chances could be counted on one hand - with the standard of crossing appalling
from both sides.
Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich had to make the only two saves of note, from Ron
Willems and Dean Sturridge.
But this time the commitment of the Villa players could not be questioned -
although the X-rated tackle by Yorke on Dean Yates was a case of misplaced
enthusiasm.
Yates was stretchered off with his ankle strapped up and taken to hospital for
x-rays on a serious-looking injury.
Derby, missing strikers Paulo Wanchope and Deon Burton who were in Gold Cup
action, got small change from a Villa defence which earned a rare clean sheet.
Derby were the first to settle and Christian Dailly, employed in an unusual
striking role in the absence of Costa Rica star Wanchope, flashed an early
volley just over the top.
Dailly switched to his accustomed defensive role after Yates went off with
substitute Willems slotting in up front alongside Sturridge - and the Dutchman
quickly made his presence felt.
He played a neat one-two with Stefano Eranio which left him with a clear view
of goal and Bosnich was forced to beat out his stinging effort.
A header from Lee Carsley then looked destined for the roof of the net before
hitting the shoulder of his skipper Igor Stimac and flying over.
Villa then enjoyed their best spell of the half with Julian Joachim a lively
customer in a rare appearance in the starting line-up.
Poom held onto a long range drive from Mark Draper, Joachim was only inches
wide with a similar effort and then Collymore had an effort disallowed for
offside.
But Derby regained the initiative with Bosnich racing out of his goal to block
a shot from Sturridge after he beat the offside trap.
Willems was then the provider for Sturridge who cut in from the right and
curled a shot inches over the top.
The second half also served up precious little in the way of excitement. There
was a rare moment of action when Grayson burst into the area after playing a
one-two with Draper but his shot was comfortably held by Poom.
Derby had to wait until the 70th minute to create a reasonable second half
opening. Dailly released Sturridge who burst into the area before cutting the
ball back invitingly into the path of Baiano - but his shot was blocked by
Southgate.
Then came Yorke's late effort to give Villa a massive lift before next
Saturday's FA Cup clash with Coventry.
Teams
Derby: Poom, Rowett, C. Powell, Yates (Willems 18), Stimac,
Sturridge, Laursen, Carsley, Eranio, Dailly,
Baiano (D. Powell 85).
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Delap, Solis.
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Grayson, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu,
Scimeca, Draper, Hendrie (Nelson 85), Joachim,
Yorke (Byfield 90), Collymore.
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Charles, Hughes.
Booked: Collymore, Yorke.
Goals: Yorke 90.
Att: 30,251
Ref: P E Alcock (Redhill).
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