Match Report: Derby County 2-0 Cheltenham Town

Derby County returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening thanks to a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town.

David McGoldrick scored his 18th of the season before Lewis Dobbin added a second to ensure all three points for the Rams.

Major Moments

The Rams were close to finding an opener within the opening minute through top scorer McGoldrick. Harvey White played a lovely ball over the top for the striker who cut inside and bent inches wide of Luke Southwood's right-hand post.

Derby's number 10 was involved again soon after when his neat play released Nathaniel Mendez-Laing down the left but a Cheltenham defender was able to get a vital foot into ensure Mendez-Laing wasn't through one-on-one with the keeper.

There wasn't much in terms of action in either box early on with the visitors content with sitting deep and it was them that could have taken the lead with a breakaway goal. A misplaced Eiran Cashin pass along the back saw Alfie May break into the box but the defender got back and made up for his error with a superb last-ditch block.

The Robins were proving to be resilient and looked to have held out until the break but McGoldrick had other ideas.

Dobbin did brilliantly down the right and set Conor Hourihane away. Hourihane crossed and the ball and it broke nicely for McGoldrick in the centre who lashed home his 18th of the season.

Dobbin forced the first real attempt of any anger after the break when he got away down the left and forced Southwood into a comfortable save down low.

Derby did however double their lead soon after and it was a well deserved goal for Dobbin. Jason Knight played a delightful ball down the channel for McGoldrick and he crossed brilliantly for Dobbin who slotted into the bottom corner.

The second all but killed the game for the visitors who were unable to threaten once after Dobbin's strike and the Rams saw the game out comfortably for an all-important three points.

Attendance: 23,822 (344 Cheltenham Town supporters)

The Teams

Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth (C), Hourihane, Cashin, McGoldrick (76' Collins), Mendez-Laing (76' Barkhuizen), Smith, Roberts, Dobbin (76' Springett), White (70' Sibley), Knight (83' Thompson)

Substitutes not used: McGee (GK), Davies

Cheltenham Town: Southwood (GK), Long (C), May, Taylor, Ferry (70' Williams), Jackson (70' Raglan), Bonds, Perry (70' Keena), Broom, Rea (63' Sercombe), Olayinka (84' Brown)

Substitutes not used: MacDonald, Barkers