Derby County booked the play-offs with a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the final game of the season.
Martyn Waghorn opened the scoring in the first-half, powering home from Jayden Bogle’s cross. The pressure was then on as West Brom equalised minutes after the restart through Stefan Johansen to drop the Rams to seventh in the table.
Derby refused to give up and two goals in three minutes ensured their season was extended. Mason Bennett smashed in the second-chance shot before Harry Wilson slotted in from the penalty spot to confirm their place.
The Rams will now face Leeds United in the Play-Off Semi-Finals.
West Brom looked to open the scoring early with Jacob Murphy finding himself in space but he dragged his effort wide. Straight down the other side, Tom Lawrence received the ball on the edge of the box and struck his effort on target but it was palmed out.
In the 20th minute, the Rams took the lead with a crucial goal to boost their play-off hopes. Jayden Bogle took one touch to whip in his eighth assist of the season to pick out Waghorn to fire his header past Sam Johnstone.
On the 30 minutes, Albion missed an opportunity to draw level when Murphy’s cross from the right was met by the Baggies’ top goal-scorer, Dwight Gayle, but the forward tapped wide.
Waghorn looked to double his tally on the afternoon and the Rams lead with ten minutes to go in the half. This time the cross came from the left and Scott Malone but the No. 9’s header was directed into Johnstone’s hands.
The striker was then forced to call time on his afternoon after picking up an injury.
Just three minutes after the restart, Albion found the equaliser when Stefan Johansen struck from outside the area into the far corner.
David Nugent almost grabbed the lead straight back after being played through by Lawrence, he looked to lift his shot over Johnstone but the Baggies keeper blocked it. Mason Mount the rifled a shot from 25 yards out, his effort was batted away.
The Rams relentlessly continued to press to regain the lead and return in to the top-six. Their efforts paid off with 20 minutes left. Mount struck inside the area but his shot was blocked and in the scramble Bennett slammed in the second chance shot.
They weren’t done there and just two minutes later Lawrence waltzed into the area and was brought down and was awarded the penalty. Wilson stepped up and coolly tucked it away in the bottom left corner.
Scott Malone and Mount both called Johnstone into action late on before Hal Robson-Kanu was shown a red card in added time, but the three goal were enough for the Rams.
The victory ensured the Rams’ place in the play-offs for the second consecutive season.
Derby County: Roos; Bogle, Keogh (C), Tomori, Malone; Holmes (Bennett, 65), Johnson, Mount; Wilson (Evans, 90), Waghorn (Nugent, 41), Lawrence
Unused Subs: Carson, Marriott, Macdonald, Huddlestone
West Bromwich Albion: Johnstone; Dawson, Bartley (C) (Robson-Kanu, 78), Hegazi; Gibbs, Johansen (Field, 75), Harper, Holgate; Murphy (Phillips, 60), Rodriguez; Gayle
Unused Subs: Bond, Morrison, Mears, Townsend
