Jak Netting

Derby eventually made their chances count as they beat Stevenage 1-0 at Pride Park to extend their gap to Bolton Wanderers in League One.

The game got off to a rather slow start as both teams looked to avoid any early errors in the game, but it was Stevenage who looked the more comfortable in possession early on.

Appeals for an early penalty for the Rams were waved on by referee Tom Reeves in the 17^th minute, much to the displeasure of the home crowd, but it was the visitors who continued to enjoy control of the game from that point.

The hosts were frustrated throughout the half, with virtually every attack being brought to an abrupt conclusion after an erroneous pass early in the move.

The Boro thought that they had found an opener in the 31^st minute as the ball ricocheted goalward off of a collection of bodies in the penalty area following a corner, but captain Sonny Bradley was in the right place at the right time to clear the stray ball off the line.

Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was called into action for the first time with an impressive, and important, save to deny the visitors from close range in the 36^th minute.

The first half drew to an end without any further drama, though Derby began to enjoy some control in the closing stages, for the first time in the game.

Derby started the second half on the front foot and Pride Park was rocking as they began relentlessly looking to attack and carve an opening, though their efforts on the pitch were largely frustrated as the Stevenage defence held strong.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was given Derby’s best chance of the game when he was played in behind the defence in the 69^th minute, but his shot challenged the wrong side of the near post and went behind for a goal kick.

Derby’s dominance of the game grew as the half progressed and, by the 75^th minute, a goal for the hosts felt more of a matter of when not if they score, with Paul Warne’s side certainly the driving force at this point.

Less than ten minutes later, Stevenage goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond was called into action, and the 24-year-old produced a spectacular save to deny the hosts the lead.

In the 90^th minute, as the game looked to be drawing to a frustrating conclusion for the hosts, substitute Louie Sibley connected with a layoff from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to find the back of the net, giving Derby the lead in the closing stages.

With four minutes added on, the Rams saw the game out with Stevenage providing no real scares in the final minute, with the referee eventually bringing the game to an end, confirming Derby’s 1-0 win over Stevenage.

The result sees Derby keep within six points of league leaders Portsmouth, and move three points clear of Bolton Wanderers in third, who drew 3-3 at home to Charlton Athletic.

As for Stevenage, they fall to three points outside of the playoff places, and will be thankful that their promotion rivals Oxford United and Peterborough United both dropped points as well.