Match Report

Derby County took another significant step towards safety when they finally broke the resistance of a stubborn Blackpool side with three goals in the final 15 minutes.

Kris Commons had given Derby an early lead, but Rob Edwards had levelled with a first-half header and the Seasiders looked set to take a point until Commons changed the game.

He restored Derby's lead with a superb shot and then set up Paul Green before Nacer Barazite sealed victory with a late deflected shot.

The margin of victory flattered Derby, who struggled for rhythm for long periods of the game and Blackpool will look back on a miss by Gary Taylor-Fletcher as a significant point in the game.

There is a new attacking belief in the Rams since Nigel Clough became manager and that was the difference between the teams on a night when the quality of play was at times disappointing.

Stephen Crainey had a night he will want to forget and it was his poorly directed header that allowed Rob Hulse to beat goalkeeper Matt Gilks and square the ball for Commons to score from ten yards in the ninth minute.

But the home side lost Gary Teale with a hamstring injury four minutes later and poor marking allowed Edwards to head a free-kick from David Vaughan into the roof of the net in the 31st minute.

Derby's confidence started to ebb away and it was Blackpool who looked more dangerous in the second half when Taylor-Fletcher shot wide from ten yards when he should have hit the target.

Dudley Campbell also flashed a shot wide in the 71st minute, but Derby had the players capable of finding the net as Commons showed in the 74th minute when he turned inside Crainey and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner.

Blackpool had to push forward and they were caught in the 87th minute when Commons sent Green through on the right to fire low past Gilks.

Then Barazite ended a surging run from inside his own half with a shot from 20 yards that deflected off Edwards to give Derby their third consecutive league victory.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides