2 years ago
34
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Tosin Adarabioyo got the final touch as he diverted the ball into his own net for Derby's winnerDerby County brought an abrupt halt to Fulham's Premier League promotion party as they came from behind to claim a crucial victory that kept their own faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
Fulham were on track for the win that would have secured an immediate top-flight return with five games to spare thanks to Fabio Carvalho's well-taken opener.
But 19-year-old Luke Plange brought the hosts level five minutes into the second period before Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo turned Tom Lawrence's cross-shot into his own net.
Realistically, the result is unlikely to change the narrative of the campaign given Fulham still only require three points for promotion and a single defeat in the Rams' final four games will leave Reading requiring just a point to send Derby down.
But, in front of prospective new owner Chris Kirchner, the result underlined the fight that remains in a club that should, over the next couple of weeks, provide manager Wayne Rooney with some much-needed stability to build for the future.
Successive defeats for the first time this season is a major disappointment for Fulham - and this loss will hurt because for 45 minutes it looked so unlikely.
Without ever being at their best, Marco Silva's men had too much for their hosts.
Carvalho's finish at the end of a one-two with Bobby Decordova-Reid showed why Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the Portuguese youngster to Liverpool, and he would have had two but for Ryan Allsop's excellent save.
Allsop denied 38-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic with a flying save after half-time and the Serb had a goal disallowed for offside as he tucked home the rebound to a Carvalho effort that struck the base of a post.
By that point, Derby had equalised when Plange finished off a flowing move that also included home-grown pair Liam Thompson and Lee Buchanan.
There was an element of fortune about Derby's winner but Plange deserves credit for putting Tosin under pressure.
In a frenetic finale, Malcolm Ebiowei tested Marek Rodak with a long-range drive before Harrison Reid had an injury-time shot deflected over as Derby remained defiant to secure a memorable triumph.
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31AllsopBooked at 89mins
- 2Byrne
- 33Davies
- 41CashinBooked at 90mins
- 26Buchanan
- 5BielikSubstituted forSibleyat 84'minutes
- 42ThompsonBooked at 33minsSubstituted forEboseleat 72'minutes
- 32EbioweiSubstituted forRichardsat 90+7'minutes
- 10LawrenceBooked at 61mins
- 38Knight
- 48Plange
Substitutes
- 3Forsyth
- 16Stearman
- 17Sibley
- 21Roos
- 36Ebosele
- 46Richards
- 49Cybulski
Fulham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rodák
- 20N WilliamsSubstituted forMuniz Carvalhoat 81'minutes
- 16Tosin
- 13Ream
- 23BryanBooked at 90mins
- 10CairneySubstituted forSeriat 72'minutes
- 6Reed
- 8WilsonSubstituted forKebanoat 72'minutes
- 28Carvalho
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 9Mitrovic
Substitutes
- 3Hector
- 7Kebano
- 12Chalobah
- 19Muniz Carvalho
- 21Gazzaniga
- 24Seri
- 33Robinson
Referee:Robert Jones
Attendance:23,773
Live Text
Match ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 1.
Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Fulham 1.
Substitution, Derby County. Carlos Peliza Richards replaces Malcolm Ebiowei.
Joe Bryan (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joe Bryan (Fulham).
Festy Ebosele (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic with a headed pass.
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Ryan Allsop.
Attempt saved. Harrison Reed (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Hand ball by Fabio Carvalho (Fulham).
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Eiran Cashin.
Eiran Cashin (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Rodrigo Muniz (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eiran Cashin (Derby County).
Attempt saved. Malcolm Ebiowei (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Luke Plange.
Ryan Allsop (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.
Attempt missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Neeskens Kebano with a cross.
Hand ball by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).
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