Fratton Park
Derby County claimed maximum points away to Portsmouth in the Sky Bet Championship on Monday night.
It took just seven minutes for Sam Szmodics to net his second goal of the season for the Rams and put John Eustace’s side in front as he drilled home the second ball from a Derry Murkin corner.
Chances also came for Patrick Agyemang and Ben Brereton Díaz in a dominant first half, but Portsmouth’s defence kept the scoreline narrow.
In the second period, the hosts came out with impetus, and the Rams’ back-line had to dig deep to retain their lead and earn the win.
It took until the fifth minute for one of the sides to threaten in the penalty box.
Interplay on the left between Szmodics and Murkin saw the Rams left-back cross into the box, with Rhian Brewster and Ben Brereton Díaz having attempts that were seen out of play by the Pompey defence.
Derby did make their next effort count, though, as a long throw led to a corner which Szmodics tucked away after Murkin’s delivery was headed into his path just inside the penalty area for the attacker to sweep goalwards.
Brereton Díaz came near to making it 2-0 in the 19th minute when Patrick Agyemang held up the ball and played it to the Chilean international, who ghosted into space on the right. He shot from an angle and forced a save from goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
An effort from Zak Swanson was the first to call Derby goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell into action after half an hour. A long dipping strike was collected confidently by the shot-stopper, following Pompey’s longest spell with the ball.
Dion Sanderson also made his mark during this spell as the Rams centre-back threw himself forward to block a stinging effort from Conor Chaplin after the ball fell kindly for the attacker on the edge of the penalty area.
Portsmouth’s best chance of the half was in the 42nd minute as former Ram Ebou Adams won the ball high up the pitch and set up Jacob Brown to hit hard from 20 yards. O’Donnell got down low to save and got up quickly to retrieve the ball before a Pompey attacker could sweep up the rebound.
Agyemang looked certain to score a second for Derby down the other end when he charged down the left and hit low and from an angle. Schmid got his hand to the ball to see it bounce off the post and just out of Szmodics’ reach for the follow-up.
The hosts started on the front foot in the second period, but Derby’s defence held against pressure as Pompey looked for an equaliser. Murkin made a crucial clearance after a free-kick from deep bounced just off the line in the opening stages of the half.
Again, the Rams came near to doubling their advantage when Joe Ward’s free-kick attempt rattled the crossbar on the hour, a curving effort from 25 yards arrowed off the bar before the danger was cleared.
Oscar Fraulo entered the field after an hour, and David Ozoh and Carlton Morris followed ten minutes later as Derby tried to stem a Portsmouth side eagerly searching for a leveller.
Millenic Alli forced a superb low reaction save from O’Donnell before the second of those changes. The winger, who looked like the home team’s most lively threat, drilled low towards the bottom corner, which Derby’s goalkeeper stretched well to parry away.
Clark’s individual brilliance nearly made the Rams more comfortable in the contest with ten minutes to go. He skipped past two defenders on the left flank to emerge in the penalty area with space to shoot from an angle, Clark could only find the side netting, though.
Defender Clarke made possibly the most vital intervention in the game in the 78th minute.
The ball broke free for Marlon Pack inside the penalty area, and he wound up to shoot but was thwarted spectacularly by the Rams centre-back, who lunged in to deny the Portsmouth captain.
Substitute Jaydon Banel was next to go near for Derby as a first-time shot from distance as he strung the palms of Schmid.
Portsmouth: Schmid (GK), Ogilvie, Poole, Pack (C), Swanson, Devlin, Alli, Chaplin, Adams, Brown, Caballero.
Unused Substitutes: Bursik (GK), Williams, Shaughnessy, Swift, Bishop, Segecic, Le Roux, Kirk, Dia.
Derby County: O’Donnell (GK), Murkin (Forsyth 82), Clarke, Agyemang (Morris 72), Brewster (Fraulo 61), Szmodics (Ozoh 72), Ward, Brereton Díaz (Banel 82), Travis (C), Sanderson, Clark.
Unused Substitutes: J Thompson (GK), I Gordon, Canoville, Allen.
19,253 (1,311 Away Supporters)
The Rams will head back to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday as they welcome Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship (12.30pm kick-off).
