Derby slumped to their fourth Premiership defeat in five games at Pride Park
to further damage their dreams of a UEFA Cup place.
A week ago, Chelsea were running round Wembley with the Coca-Cola Cup, and
even after the draining efforts of their European Cup-Winners' Cup semi-final
clash in Vicenza on Thursday, they still found enough life to grab victory.
The Londoners didn't need the points as they are already assured of European
football next season, but they were still too good for a poor Derby side.
Mark Hughes, who didn't play in Italy, secured the victory with a fine
first-half header, and Derby rarely looked like creating a significant chance to
change the course of the game.
Already assured of European football next season following last weekend's
Coca-Cola Cup triumph, Gianluca Vialli rung the changes by retained only four of
the starting line-up that played in the Cup-Winners' Cup semi-final in Italy.
Dennis Wise was suspended, Frank Sinclair had a groin strain, but the team
fielded did give the impression that Chelsea are more concerned about the Euro
second leg.
It meant a debut for Maidstone-born 18 year-old John Harley.
The midfielder is
just back from the FA's school at Lilleshall, while Jody Morris, Danny Granville
and Andy Myers also got a run out.
For Derby, Lars Bohinen made his home debut and Gary Rowett was in for the
banned Igor Stimac.
But it didn't look like Derby were the team who needed these points most to
maintain their own dreams of a UEFA Cup spot.
Their chances were limited and
their desire even less.
After five minutes a Francesco Baiano cross was met by Dean Sturridge, whose
shot went inches wide, and then Granville was booked for blocking Christian
Dailly as he raced clear.
The Chelsea man was the last defender, and the incident was dead centre of the
pitch and other referees might have waved a red card, but Jeff Winter decided to
be lenient.
In fact, it was Chelsea who came closest with a stunning 45-yard lob from
Roberto Di Matteo that sailed over out of position Russell Hoult and dropped
inches wide of the post.
Then Hughes managed to avoid the offside trap after several failings, race
down the left and cracked in a shot that clipped the top of the bar.
Paulo Wanchope drove over on 35 minutes after winning a tussle for a Rowett
free kick in the area, and then sidestepped two defenders, and unleashed a
30-yard drive that curled wide.
But Hughes stunned Derby with a fine header after 36 minutes.
Young Harley
fired over a deep cross from the left, and Rowett allowed the ball to clear his
jump, leaving the Chelsea striker room to send a lobbed header into the far
corner for his ninth goal of the season.
Derby's second half display was better, with Chelsea prepared to sit back and
absorb the pressure.
Francesco Baiano fired in a free kick that clipped the bar after 59 minutes,
and then two minutes later Rory Delap sent in a fine overhead kick that Dimitri
Kharine brilliantly turned over the bar.
Dean Sturridge with a snap-shot that flew wide, and a Wanchope close range
effort that Kharine fell on, kept up Derby's pressure.
But a defence, well-marshalled by Frank Leboeuf and Steve Clarke, withstood
Derby's attempts to grab something from a disappointing game.
Teams
Derby: Hoult, Rowett, Powell, Sturridge, Wanchope, Delap,
Bohinen (Solis 87), Laursen (Hunt 46), Carsley, Dailly,
Baiano (Burton 72).
Subs Not Used: Willems, Poom.
Chelsea: Kharine, Petrescu, Leboeuf, Clarke (Charvet 78), Hughes,
Di Matteo, Granville, Myers, Flo (Nicholls 72), Morris,
Harley (Newton 83).
Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Lee.
Booked: Granville.
Goals: Hughes 37.
Att: 30,062
Ref: J T Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
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