Blackpool 0-1 Derby
Last updated on .From the section Football
Craig Bryson scored from close range as Derby maintained their 100% start to the season with victory over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
Bryson struck on 69 minutes after home goalkeeper Matthew Gilks could only fumble a Steve Davies free-kick into the midfielder's path.
The result sees Derby move level on points with Southampton and Brighton at the top of the Championship.
Blackpool, who also won their first two matches, slip down to eighth.
The match got off to a scrappy start and it was not until the 22nd minutes that either keeper was forced into action, Derby's Frank Fielding holding on to a 25-yard drive by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
The rest of the half passed off with little incident, but just before the interval, Taylor-Fletcher and Kevin Phillips combined cleverly for Stephen Crainey to see a shot was deflected narrowly wide.
In the second half Jamie Ward hit the angle of post and bar with a curling effort that left Gilks rooted to the spot.
Blackpool responded by peppering the Derby box with a succession of crosses and corners, but a Rams defence impressively marshalled by skipper Jason Shackell stood firm.
And their reward came after Matt Hill bundled Davies over 25 yards from goal. Gilks plunged to his right but parried Davies's strike to Bryson, who slotted home.
Taylor-Fletcher then fired narrowly wide and Keith Southern blazed past the post, but Blackpool could not find an equaliser.
