Derby County defeat Bournemouth in crucial win

Krystian Bielik’s first-half strike was enough for the Rams to come away with a vital three points as they sink promotion-chasing Bournemouth.

In a game where Derby could really have done with all three points, that’s exactly what they managed to do with a 32nd-minute winner from Poland international Bielik.

Graeme Shinnie whipped the corner in and Bielik climbed high but saw his initial attempt at a header bounce back to him and he managed to stick the ball in past Asmir Begovic at the second bite of the cherry.

The Ras started the game well, they kept the ball well on what was a difficult pitch to play on and should have taken the lead inside the opening minutes when Bielik crossed in and found his Poland teammate, Kamil Jozwiak at the far post but his header was straight at Begovic who saved comfortably.

Bournemouth then began to control the game and fashioned a chance themselves as the ball was flashed across goal but Dominic Solanke couldn’t quite get enough contact to knock the ball home.

Derby’s chances were limited in the first half but they managed to breakthrough from a set-piece as Shinnie whipped the ball in and Bielik smashed the ball past the helpless Begovic in the Bournemouth goal.

The Rams took the lead into the break but as the second half rolled around, it became more of a fight for the home side. The Cherries dominated the ball but couldn’t find a way through with the best chance of the game for the away side falling to Lloyd Kelly, but he could only see his header saved by the outstretched Kelle Roos who made a fantastic diving save to his left.

Bournemouth kept pressing Derby to try and find an equaliser but it just never came and Bournemouth now find themselves down in 5th place, eight points behind leaders Norwich while the win for Derby has pulled them out of the relegation zone, for now.

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