Rams Suffer Defeat In The Capital Against Fulham

Derby County suffered a 3-0 defeat to Fulham in their midweek trip to the capital in Sky Bet Championship fixture.

Phillip Cocu made two changes to the team from the 1-0 win over Preston North End three days earlier, with George Evans and Martyn Waghorn replacing Graeme Shinnie and Mason Bennett, who both went off injured in the win over the Lilywhites.

Two first-half goals were the deciding factor with Bobby Decorvova-Reid netting in first before Aleksandar Mitrovic seeing the second in from the back of his head from a corner.

Tom Cairney then added the final touches in the final minute with a composed finish for the home side.

The Rams had made a bright start, finding the first opportunity of the night after just five minutes. Duane Holmes won the ball back in Fulham half before feeding out to Max Lowe down the left of the box. The left-back whipped a cross over towards Tom Lawrence in the middle of the area, but he scuffed his effort wide of the mark.

Derby would rue that missed early chance as just two minutes later, the home side had the lead. A Fulham corner was headed out by Krystian Bielik. However, it found Aboubakar Kamara who flung the ball back into the box for Decordova-Reid to flick in from a couple of yards out.

There were spells of good work from the Rams in the middle of the park, with a neat one-two between Holmes and Chris Martin lining up a shot for the latter, but the visitors struggled to find the end product they craved.

Down at the other end Fulham had a couple of good chances midway through the half, but both times were denied by Kelle Roos. On the 28 minute-mark, Kamara squared to Ivan Cavaleiro outside the box who rifled a goal-bound shot which the Rams stopper punched away.

Just three minutes later, Kamara looked to take aim himself with a left-footed shot from range but Roos stifled his attempt.

Fulham did find their second with five minutes to go in the half. Kamara sent a corner to the far post to find the head of Mitrovic.

Just two minutes after the restart, Roos was called into action again. Mitrovic created space inside the area after being played in by Kamara before firing his effort, which the Derby keeper punched away. The striker then headed over from close range from the resulting corner.

Clear chances were few and far between for both sides as the final half played out with Fulham sitting further back to defend their lead.

In the final minute Fulham hit the Rams on the counter attack with Mitrovic bursting down the middle of the pitch before feeding to an open Cairney to slot in their third of the night.

Fulham: Rodak; Odoi, Ream, Mawson, Bryan; Cairney (C), Johansen, Decordova-Reid (Onomah, 60); Kamara (Knockaert, 54), Mitrovic, Cavaleiro (Christie, 79)

Unused Subs: Bettinelli, McDonald, Kebano, O’Riley

Derby County: Roos; Bogle, Davies (C), Forsyth, Lowe; Holmes (Marriott, 76), Bielik, Evans (Dowell, 61); Waghorn, Martin (Whittaker, 59), Lawrence

Unused Subs: Hamer, Paterson, Bird, Malone