SM
Watford vs. Oxford Utd: 1 hr 53 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
PN
Championship | Gameweek 40
Jul 1, 2020 at 5pm UK
Cossham Street Stadium
DL

Preston
0 - 1
Derby

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rooney (18')

Wayne Rooney's freekick helps Derby County close gap on playoffs

:Headline: Result: Wayne Rooney's freekick helps Derby County close gap on playoffs: ID:404731: from db_amp
The Rams are now a point behind sixth-placed Cardiff in the hunt for the play-offs.

Wayne Rooney's free-kick secured Derby another win as they beat Preston 1-0 at Deepdale to close the gap between them and the Sky Bet Championship play-off places to a point.

Skipper Rooney curled the ball past Declan Rudd in the 18th minute, the 34-year-old's sixth goal for the club since joining in January.

It was a fifth successive league victory for Phillip Cocu's men as they moved a point and a place behind sixth-placed Cardiff.

Alex Neil's Preston, previously in seventh themselves, remain outside the play-off berths by four points, following their fifth defeat in a six-game winless run.

Preston's starting line-up showed five changes from the 3-1 loss to Cardiff on Saturday, with ex-Derby man David Nugent among those coming into the team.

There were four adjustments for the visitors from their 2-1 victory over Reading, including George Evans replacing Andre Wisdom, who had been recovering in hospital after being stabbed during an unprovoked assault and robbery.

Derby had the first attempt on goal in the fourth minute when Preston got into a defensive mix-up, Martyn Waghorn burst into the box and his rising strike was pushed behind by Rudd.

Nugent then produced a header lacking in power at the other end, before Derby grabbed the lead through Rooney.

Referee Jarred Gillett awarded a free-kick after Paul Huntington tangled with Louie Sibley – who it appeared was then stood on by Huntington – and Rooney sent the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net, with Rudd rooted to the spot.

As Preston looked to reply, shots from Alan Browne and Paul Gallagher were blocked and deflected wide respectively.

Derby were then back on the front foot, with Duane Holmes bringing a good save out of Rudd, before Gallagher fired over just prior to the interval.

Max Lowe shot off-target in the 56th minute and Brad Potts then called Ben Hamer into action with an attempt from just outside the box, but it was a comfortable catch for the Derby goalkeeper.

Derby substitute Chris Martin headed over from another Rooney free-kick in the 72nd minute and Max Bird sent an ambitious effort wide of the hosts' goal in stoppage time.

The last few seconds then saw Rudd charge up the pitch for a corner and send a header over the Derby bar as Preston's final efforts to salvage something proved in vain.

amp_article__404731 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-07-01 18:22:57:
html db last update - 2020-07-01 18:22:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .