Match ends, Derby County 4, Blackpool 0.
DerbyDerby County4BlackpoolBlackpool0
Derby put their poor recent form behind them by hammering already-relegated Blackpool to stay firmly in the race for promotion from the Championship.
The Rams, who had only won one of their last nine, led in the third minute through Craig Bryson's strike.
And they sealed the win before half-time through Tom Ince's driven goal and Darren Bent's curling finish.
Bent added his second from the penalty spot after Ryan Shotton was pulled back in the box.
| Derby's remaining games |
|---|
| 18 April: Huddersfield (away) |
| 25 April: Millwall (away) |
| 2 May: Reading (home) |
With three games to go and a seven-point gap between the Rams and second place a late push for automatic promotion is highly unlikely.
But this win does strengthen their position in the play-offs, leaving them fifth, four points ahead of seventh-placed Brentford, who lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
Blackpool are now guaranteed to finish bottom of the table and appear broken by a turbulent season, but Derby were still ruthlessly efficient in picking them off.
Bryson was given acres of space but still had to pull out a precise and powerful shot to score the opener.
Ince was not tracked but his curling finish to double the lead against his former club was still of the highest quality.
Bent benefitted from an under-hit Charles Dunne back-pass for the third and his finish was emphatic.
With the game won, Derby were able to ease off, although they still managed to add a fourth when Peter Clarke dragged back the charging Shotton and Bent fired home from the spot for his 12th goal in 15 matches since joining on loan from Aston Villa.
Derby boss Steve McClaren: "This was the genuine article. We kept a clean sheet, we worked, we passed and moved, we played at a good tempo and we got our reward."
Blackpool manager Lee Clark: "We need to change everything and restructure the whole club. This will mean a very busy summer but we have already started talking about players and I have never been knocked back whenever I have asked for support in bringing people in."
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Grant
- 6Keogh
- 32Shotton
- 17Whitbread
- 37Warnock
- 4Bryson
- 8HendrickSubstituted forThomasat 78'minutes
- 7Dawkins
- 23InceSubstituted forWardat 74'minutes
- 39BentSubstituted forRussellat 68'minutes
- 16Lingard
Substitutes
- 2Christie
- 3Forsyth
- 10Ward
- 11Russell
- 21Roos
- 29Thomas
- 36Albentosa
Blackpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Parish
- 3MaherSubstituted forBarkhuizenat 54'minutes
- 6Clarke
- 48O'Dea
- 18Dunne
- 22Cubero Loria
- 4Perkins
- 31O'Hara
- 11Orlandi
- 24Madine
- 40CameronSubstituted forOsavi-Samuelat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 20Oliver
- 25Ferguson
- 27Barkhuizen
- 34Telford
- 41Higham
- 42Boney
- 43Osavi-Samuel
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 27,227
Match Stats
Home TeamDerbyAway TeamBlackpool
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away0
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 4, Blackpool 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. José Cubero (Blackpool) header from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Andrea Orlandi following a set piece situation.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jamie O'Hara (Blackpool) because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Richard Keogh (Derby County).
Post update
Jamie O'Hara (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jesse Lingard (Derby County).
Post update
Peter Clarke (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Andrea Orlandi.
Post update
Foul by Jamie Ward (Derby County).
Post update
Bright Samuel (Blackpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Stephen Warnock following a set piece situation.
Post update
Craig Bryson (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by José Cubero (Blackpool).
Post update
Kwame Thomas (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Darren O'Dea (Blackpool).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jesse Lingard (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Charles Dunne (Blackpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Kwame Thomas replaces Jeff Hendrick.
