Christie steals priceless win

Christie slides home the winner

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Derby 1-0 Bolton

Malcolm Christie's poacher's goal gave Derby only their second win in 11 games and boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop.

With Fabrizio Ravanelli going close on a number of occasions, it was a deserved three points for Colin Todd's men.

Kevin Nolan had Bolton's best chances, but there was too little urgency from the visitors.

Derby dominated possession and Bolton never looked like taking what would have been only their third win in their last 13 matches.

Christie battles with Mike Whitlow

The deadlock was broken midway through the second half.

Benito Carbone chased what seemed a lost cause down the by-line and somehow squeezed a cross in.

Christie arrived at pace to clip the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal.

There were a few bottles and teacups thrown around the dressing room at the end - I don't mind that but I wish we had shown controlled aggression right from the start

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce

The Derby striker almost added a second a minute later but Jaaskelainen tipped away his close-range effort.

Ravanelli had worked tirelessly for Derby and found space down the left with an hour gone.

He spotted Francois Grenet on a forward run and delivered a perfect ball into his path, but the header drifted wide.

Nolan then found himself in a good position and tried to bend the ball around Chris Riggott only for it to rebound off the Derby defender.

Christie missed a good chance in the 53rd minute after Jaaskelainen had mis-kicked his clearance, but he dragged his shot well wide of the post.

Ravanelli was out of luck in the first half, his goal-bound shot coming back off the bar.

The Italian had come closest to breaking the deadlock in an opening 45 minutes that lacked entertainment.

Derby manager Colin Todd barks instructions

Derby were having plenty of possession but keeper Jaaskelainen was not really troubled.

Riggott got a header in from Carbone's corner but he steered his effort wide of the target.

Carbone then set up Darryl Powell in a good position, but his shot was weak and Jaaskelainen was able to gather safely.

Bolton seemed content to sit back and hit Derby on the break.

Hopefully now we can grow from this. We have got what it takes and we have been playing good football

Derby's Darryl Powell

Nolan found space in area only to see his shot drift wide under pressure from Danny Higginbotham.

Bolton had a scare in the 15th minute when Carbone was allowed a free header at the back post, but he steered his effort over the bar.

But it was Christie's strike in the second half that handed Derby the points.

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Derby: Poom, Grenet, Mawene, Riggott, Higginbotham, Zavagno, Ducrocq, Carbone, Powell, Ravanelli, Christie. Subs: Oakes, Burton, Kinkladze, Boertien, Bolder.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness, Whitlow, Bergsson, Charlton, Gardner, Frandsen, Warhurst, Nolan, Wallace, Ricketts. Subs: Poole, N'Gotty, Holdsworth, Farrelly, Johnson.

Referee: M Messias (York)