Match ends, Derby County 2, Blackburn Rovers 0.
DerbyDerby County2BlackburnBlackburn Rovers0
Derby County moved up to second in the Championship after Darren Bent's second-half brace saw off a resilient Blackburn Rovers side.
Bent, on as a second-half substitute, latched onto Ryan Shotton's long throw to steer home the opener.
His second came from close range in stoppage time after Chris Martin's initial shot had been saved.
The victory moves the Rams level on points with leaders Bournemouth, but behind them on goal difference.
The top five teams in English football's second tier are now separated by only two points.
The double takes Bent to three goals in three appearances for Derby since signing on loan from Aston Villa.
Derby goalkeeper Lee Grant denied Chris Brown and Tom Cairney a second-half leveller as the hosts dominated for long periods but struggled to break down the Rovers defence.
It means Blackburn, who surprisingly left striker Jordan Rhodes on the substitutes' bench for most of the game, have only one win from their last nine Championship matches and are now 11 points adrift of the play-off places.
Despite reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup, Steve McClaren's Derby will remain focused on securing a top-two spot and automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Derby manager Steve McClaren: "Some people arrive in the box and the ball never finds them, but Darren Bent is a genuine finisher with the skill and composure to snap up chances.
"He could have gone somewhere else and had an easy time with a guaranteed starting place. But he chose to come here and fight for a place in a good team and he has given us the different edge that we needed.
"We had to dig deep because Rovers are a tough, strong, direct side but I thought our attitude was absolutely tremendous."
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer: "It was a close game settled by two bits of shocking defending and two bits of Premiership-class finishing.
"Derby are a terrific team with a great manager and a brilliant set-up. But we matched them for most of the game and then gave it away with bad defending."
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Grant
- 32Shotton
- 6Keogh
- 5Buxton
- 3Forsyth
- 8Hendrick
- 33Mascarell
- 19HughesBooked at 90mins
- 7DawkinsSubstituted forBentat 63'minutes
- 9Martin
- 10WardBooked at 82minsSubstituted forBennettat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Christie
- 4Bryson
- 20Bennett
- 21Roos
- 36Albentosa
- 37Warnock
- 39Bent
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 30Steele
- 15Baptiste
- 5HanleySubstituted forRhodesat 77'minutes
- 4Kilgallon
- 14OlssonBooked at 51mins
- 12Marshall
- 6Lowe
- 29Evans
- 32ConwayBooked at 82mins
- 10CairneySubstituted forGestedeat 43'minutesSubstituted forBrownat 64'minutes
- 7King
Substitutes
- 9Brown
- 11Rhodes
- 13Eastwood
- 17Williamson
- 19Taylor
- 22Duffy
- 39Gestede
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 26,373
Match Stats
Home TeamDerbyAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Matthew Kilgallon.
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Will Hughes (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Matthew Kilgallon (Blackburn Rovers).
Goal!
Goal! Derby County 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Darren Bent (Derby County) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt saved. Chris Martin (Derby County) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Bennett.
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Offside, Derby County. Chris Martin tries a through ball, but Darren Bent is caught offside.
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Jeff Hendrick (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers).
Booking
Will Hughes (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Will Hughes (Derby County).
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Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Chris Martin.
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Chris Martin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Alex Baptiste (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Mason Bennett replaces Jamie Ward.
Post update
Chris Martin (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Markus Olsson.
