Match ends, Derby County 2, Cardiff City 0.
DerbyDerby County2CardiffCardiff City0
Goals from George Thorne and Andreas Weimann gave Derby County victory over Cardiff City as the Rams moved up to fourth place in the Championship.
Midfielder Thorne smashed Chris Martin's lay-off into the bottom corner from 15 yards early in the second half.
Weimann doubled the advantage when he fired home from a tight angle after David Marshall parried Thorne's shot.
Cardiff, who have scored only 17 league goals from 17 games so far this season, had two shots on target.
Paul Clement's Derby, meanwhile, have won seven of their past nine league games and sit two points behind leaders Hull, with Cardiff in ninth.
Derby had 71% of possession in the first half, as former Aston Villa forward Weimann saw his powerful effort brilliantly saved by Marshall and Jacob Butterfield's 25-yard strike was also kept out by the Scotland goalkeeper.
Cardiff's best effort before the break saw South African midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi poke Kenwyne Jones' cutback wide.
The Rams started the second half brightly as Bradley Johnson's header from Butterfield's corner was cleared off the line.
Thorne eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break with a sweet strike from the centre of the area for his second goal of the season.
Austria international Weimann made sure of all three points with a clever finish from six yards before Jones summed up Cardiff's afternoon as he headed over from close range while unmarked.
Derby head coach Paul Clement: "I thought George Thorne was outstanding. He scored the goal but his overall performance was of a very high level.
"When he signed for this club within two or three days of him joining he had the injury and then when he came back he had other associated problems from being out for such a long period.
"But he's been working very hard with his physical condition and we are reaping the rewards of having him fit and playing regularly."
Cardiff boss Russell Slade: "It's always disappointing when you lose but I think we lost it to the better side.
"Sometimes you have to put your hands up and I thought Derby were very good today.
"We matched them for much of the first half but they double pressed us hard up the field in the second and unfortunately the two goals we conceded came from us having possession of the ball."
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-3-3
- 17Carson
- 2ChristieSubstituted forBairdat 82'minutes
- 6Keogh
- 14Shackell
- 37Warnock
- 15JohnsonBooked at 51mins
- 34Thorne
- 18ButterfieldSubstituted forBrysonat 71'minutes
- 23InceSubstituted forRussellat 71'minutes
- 9Martin
- 24Weimann
Substitutes
- 1Grant
- 4Bryson
- 8Hendrick
- 10Bent
- 11Russell
- 12Baird
- 16Pearce
Cardiff
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Marshall
- 2Peltier
- 4Morrison
- 16ConnollyBooked at 77mins
- 28Malone
- 11NooneBooked at 69mins
- 15DikgacoiSubstituted forO'Keefeat 72'minutes
- 7WhittinghamSubstituted forKennedyat 78'minutes
- 8Ralls
- 9Jones
- 10MasonSubstituted forAmeobiat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 12John
- 20Tamas
- 21Moore
- 22O'Keefe
- 23Kennedy
- 38Ameobi
- Referee:
- Eddie Ilderton
- Attendance:
- 29,526
Match Stats
Home TeamDerbyAway TeamCardiff
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Cardiff City 0.
Post update
Chris Baird (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Matthew Kennedy (Cardiff City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Martin (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by George Thorne following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Matthew Kennedy.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Ralls with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Scott Carson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Craig Noone with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Bradley Johnson (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Andreas Weimann.
Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Jason Shackell.
Post update
Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Chris Baird.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Jason Shackell (Derby County) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Scott Malone with a cross.
Post update
Bradley Johnson (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Stuart O'Keefe (Cardiff City).
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Chris Baird replaces Cyrus Christie because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Cyrus Christie (Derby County) because of an injury.
