Overcoming playoff-chasing Blackpool at Pride Park, Derby County prevailed thanks to a fantastic goal from Ebou Adams, solidifying their hold on second position in the race for automatic promotion.
Early on, Derby had their moments, but Blackpool came up with the first chance when George Byers scuffed beyond the post after a mishandled cross fell into his way. Daniel Grimshaw was never truly tested. That was plenty to prompt Derby to react right away, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing took aim from the edge of the box and curled his shot around the post.
Derby persisted in pressing, and a corner from Louie Sibley sparked confusion at Blackpool’s near post, causing some supporters to cheer as they believed the ball had over the line.
The visitors were granted a reprieve when the referee ruled that there had been a foul in the build-up. However, Derby took the lead on their next assault when a corner was partially cleared to Ebou Adams, who fired a fantastic half-volley that sailed into the far corner.
After the interval, Blackpool made an attempt to put some pressure on Derby, but Grimshaw denied Conor Washington as he raced straight through.
Joe Wildsmith had to save a free-kick from Sonny Carey to keep them level, and you had to wonder if Derby would pay for that miss. Derby kept trying to get a second goal, but they owed it to Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin for stopping Kyle Joseph from scoring. With points lost by Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough, Warne’s team ended up with a profitable day.
On a typical matchday, you can usually see the seats empty around five minutes before the conclusion because Pride Park’s traffic can be a nightmare even on the best of days. But this time, the fans who lingered behind to celebrate a huge triumph by a team with a big heart were less in number than those who were trying to get a head start on the highways.
This was a vital afternoon, especially with only a few games left, as the results of the other games began to come in. As expected, the 1-0 victory was celebrated with a rendition of the bounce.
And for the thousands who were inside the stadium, they bounced up and down in tandem with the players who will now start to smell a return to the Championship and a place in the history books. But when Ebou Adams, whose goal sealed this win, came out to face the media after the game, the ambition of this dressing room became clear.
The midfield player claimed that Derby is more concerned with who is ahead of them than who is behind them, with Portsmouth leading the way with five points. Adams was adamant that Derby is not given up on winning the championship as the two get ready to square off at Fratton Park on Tuesday. In an exciting season, this game has the potential to reveal yet another major story twist.
An afternoon of shocks
You can only image the discussions among the supporters before the ball was even kicked about how crucial it was for Derby to win this match considering the schedule elsewhere. Bolton had the most difficult game of the season as they traveled to playoff-chasing Stevenage, but Barnsley and Peterborough appeared to have gimmes as they faced Carlisle and Cambridge, respectively.
However, at full tilt, no one could fully calculate the shockwaves that swept through League One. Although the goalless draw between Stevenage and Bolton was to be expected, neither the 2-0 victory of struggling Cambridge at Barnsley nor the 3-1 victory of bottom-of-the-table Carlisle over Peterborough at home were expected.
Barnsley and Posh now trail Derby by 10 points, and even if they win their remaining two games, they would still be four points behind in the race for second place. With one game remaining, Bolton is now six points behind Derby. It was merely a reminder of the strange things top-tier teams do when under pressure. Derby needs to make sure they don’t let that happen to them in their next five games, as they did against Northampton.
Admiring Adams
Ebou Adams gave Derby the kind of strength of character and quality that was much-needed on this particular occasion. His goal in the first half, one of the most memorable of the campaign, was a howitzer from the edge of the box, making the admission cost worthwhile. However, despite the attention being focused on his impressive technical display, he gave one of the best all-around performances in the middle of midfield.
He did an amazing job of staying true to his defensive responsibilities and was frequently tasked with watching over Karamoko Dembele, who posed a threat when he came inside off the touchline. Additionally, Dembele chopped down Adams when he snuck in front of him to gain possession and launch a counterattack during one occasion in the first half.
That summed up his performance, and what was even more amazing was that he had not eaten since 4 a.m. while observing Ramadan. He was fantastic, and since his arrival in January, the supporters have undoubtedly grown to adore a player who has changed the game. Derby’s midfield has benefited from his physicality and perseverance, which they lacked during the first half of the season. Due to his immense influence, Derby would have most likely won the championship by now if he had arrived earlier.
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