Rams clinch crucial derby win

Paul Boertien scores the opening goal

Derby County 2-0 Leicester City

Derby County eased their relegation fears as they condemned Leicester City to a sixth straight defeat in the Midlands derby at Pride Park.

Paul Boertien and Stefano Eranio scored the goals as the Rams arrested their own recent poor run to move five points clear of the relegation zone.

Their victory was well deserved, although Leicester fought back strongly in the second half as they sought in vain to end their ignominious slump.

The hosts also had striker Deon Burton sent off during a frantic finale.

Derby took the initiative early on and Burton did well to steal in behind the Leicester defence after 10 minutes, but he pulled his subsequent shot just wide.

The three points are massive for us today. We've got to stay in front and all we can do is to win our own games

  Jim Smith, Derby manager

Burton again showed good pace to break free after 18 minutes, but Simon Royce just did enough to deny him.

Ironically, their breakthrough came when they were temporarily reduced to 10 men with Daryl Powell, later replaced by Thordur Gudjonsson, off receiving treatment.

Eranio made the initial break and Boertien cut inside Matt Elliot before sending a low drive past the stationary Royce.

Taribo West and Trevor Benjamin tangle

The goal roused Leicester from their torpor and they might have levelled within minutes, but Mart Poom made a fine save to deny Ade Akinbiyi.

His opposite number Royce had to make an even better save to foil Gudjonsson after 36 minutes, pushing away his diving header from Georgi Kindladze's cross.

Leicester introduced Arnar Gunnlaugsson and Lee Marshall for Trevor Benjamin and Steve Guppy and as they attempted to inject some much-needed attacking invention.

And Gunnlaugsson almost made an instant impact coming close twice within four minutes of his introduction with almost identical headers.

Foxes fight back

His first effort was cleared off the line by Boertien after 46 minutes and three minutes later, his second attempt was tipped over by Poom.

After just about weathering that Leicester storm, Derby hit back after 55 minutes, but Eranio put his shot wide under pressure from Darren Eadie.

But Leicester, shedding their defensive shell, had several chances to level in the second period.

Poom had to turn Robbie Savage's long-range effort behind after 70 minutes, while the Welsh international sent an overhead kick just wide minutes later.

Substitute Stefan Oakes drove narrowly wide with 11 minutes remaining.

Frantic finale

The Rams might have sealed the three points after 82 minutes but Royce denied Burton once again.

At the start of the second half we deserved to get something. But at this level, you can't afford to go asleep for the first half like we did.

  Peter Taylor, Leicester manager

An injury to Elliott left Leicester down to 10 men for the final four minutes, but that was evened up when Burton was sent off in injury time after a clash with Savage.

But Derby responded brilliantly, with Eranio beating three defenders before firing past Royce for the clinching goal.

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Derby: Poom, Carbonari, West, Riggott, Delap, Eranio, Powell, Johnson, Boertien, Kinkladze, Burton.
Subs: Morris, Christie, Gudjonsson, Mawene, Grant.

Leicester: Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Davidson, Impey, Lewis, Savage, Eadie, Guppy, Akinbiyi, Benjamin
Subs: Flowers, Delaney, Oakes, Gunnlaugsson, Marshall.

Referee: M Halsey