Playoff-chasing Blackpool was defeated at Pride Park by Derby County thanks to a fantastic goal from Ebou Adams, which tightened their hold on second place in the race for automatic promotion.
Early on, Derby had their moments, but Blackpool created the first chance when George Byers scuffed past the post after a mishandled cross fell into his path. Daniel Grimshaw was never truly threatened. That was sufficient to prompt Derby to react right away, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing took aim from the edge of the box and curled his shot around the post.
Derby persisted in pressing, and a corner from Louie Sibley sparked confusion at Blackpool’s near post, causing some supporters to cheer as they believed the ball had crossed the line.
The visitors were granted a reprieve when the referee ruled that there had been a foul in the build-up. However, Derby took the lead on their next attack when a corner was partially cleared to Ebou Adams, who fired a fantastic half-volley that flew into the far corner.
After the interval, Blackpool made an attempt to put some pressure on Derby, but Grimshaw denied Conor Washington as he raced clear through.
Joe Wildsmith had to save a free-kick from Sonny Carey to keep them level, and you had to wonder if Derby would pay for that miss. Derby kept trying to get a second goal, but they owed it to Curtis Nelson and Eiran Cashin for stopping Kyle Joseph from scoring. With points lost by Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough, Warne’s team ended up with a profitable day.
A Portsmouth message and so much heart
On a typical matchday, you can usually see the seats empty about five minutes before the end because Pride Park’s traffic can be a nightmare even on the best of days. But this time, the fans who stayed behind to celebrate a huge win by a team with a big heart were less in number than those who were hoping to get a head start on the roads.
This was a pivotal afternoon, especially with only a few games left, as the results of the other games began to come in. As expected, the 1-0 victory was celebrated with a rendition of the bounce.
The players, who can now smell a return to the Championship and a spot in the annals of history, bounced along with the thousands of spectators inside the stadium. But the ambition of this dressing room was made evident when Ebou Adams, whose goal closed the score, faced the media following the game.
The midfield player claimed that Derby is more concerned with who is ahead of them than who is behind them, with Portsmouth leading the way with five points. Adams was adamant that Derby is not giving up on winning the championship as the two get ready to square off at Fratton Park on Tuesday. It’s a game where might reveal yet another significant story twist in an exciting season.
An afternoon of shocks
You can only imagine the discussions among the supporters before the ball was even kicked about how crucial it was for Derby to win this match considering the schedule elsewhere. Bolton had the most difficult game of the season as they travelled to playoff-chasing Stevenage, while Barnsley and Peterborough appeared to have gimmes as they faced Carlisle and Cambridge, respectively.
However, at full tilt, no one could fully calculate the shockwaves that swept through League One. Although the goalless draw between Stevenage and Bolton was to be expected, neither the 2-0 victory of struggling Cambridge at Barnsley nor the 3-1 victory of bottom-of-the-table Carlisle over Peterborough at home were expected.
Barnsley and Posh now trail Derby by 10 points, and even if they win their remaining two games, they would still be four points behind in the race for second place. With one game remaining, Bolton is now six points behind Derby. It was just a reminder of the strange things top-tier teams do when under pressure. Derby needs to make sure they don’t let it happen to them in their next five games, as they did against Northampton.
In awe of Adams
Ebou Adams gave Derby the kind of strength of character and quality that was much-needed on this particular afternoon. His goal in the first half, one of the most memorable of the campaign, was a howitzer from the edge of the box, making the admission fee worthwhile. However, despite the attention being focused on his impressive technical display, he gave one of the best all-around performances in the middle of midfield.
He did an amazing job of staying true to his defensive responsibilities and was frequently tasked with watching over Karamoko Dembele, who posed a threat when he came inside off the touchline. Adams also briefly nipped in front of him to gain possession before setting up a goal during the first half attempted a counterattack, but Dembele cut him down.
That summed up his performance, and what was even more amazing was that he had not eaten since 4 a.m. while observing Ramadan. He was fantastic, and since his arrival in January, the fans have undoubtedly grown to adore a player who has changed the game. Derby’s midfield has benefited from his physicality and perseverance, which they lacked during the first half of the season. Due to his immense influence, Derby would have most likely won the championship by now if he had arrived earlier.
Cashin and Nelson
If you combine their surnames, you could have a passable American detective show. However, this season has been so strong that it will be difficult to separate them for Player of the Season.
They both read the game extremely well, are aggressive without being overbearing, and have been remarkably consistent. They also understand each other’s positioning. They have been the cornerstone of this promotion push, and when they both threw themselves at two attempts by Kyle Joseph that would have given him the goal, they saved Derby at a critical moment.
It was mostly forgotten in the midst of the full-time festivities, but they recorded another shutout and have shown themselves to be an intimidating pair that never backs down from a challenge. Face-up, strikers have to detest it.
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