• Date: Sat 29 March 2008
  • Venue: Pride Park Stadium
  • Ref: Dean, M
  • Attendance: 33,034
Derby County

Derby County

Villa (10)

Villa (80)

2 - 2
Fulham

Fulham

Kamara (24)

Derby County vs Fulham

Team Lineups

Derby County

Roy Carroll
Darren Moore
Dean Leacock
Andy Todd (Tyrone Mears, 89)
Hossam Ghaly
David Jones
Eddie Lewis
Mile Sterjovski
Robbie Savage
Kenny Miller (Robert Earnshaw, 36)
Emanuel Villa

Fulham

Kasey Keller
Brede Hangeland
Aaron Hughes
Paul Konchesky
Leon Andreasen
Paul Stalteri
Jimmy Bullard (Danny Murphy, 81)
Simon Davies
Hameur Bouazza (Eddie Johnson, 81)
Diomansy Kamara
Brian McBride


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's all over. Derby are relegated with six games to play but this performance will give home supporters hope for a promotion bid next season. The point does little for Fulham but they will survive for another week at least.

89
Yellow Card
 

Kamara is booked for dissent.

89
Substitution
 

Todd makes way for Mears.

85

It's a grandstand finish here as both sides go for the win.

83
Yellow Card
 

Jones is booked for a foul on Johnson.

82
Substitution
 

Double substitution by Fulham as Bouazza and Bullard make way for Johnson and Murphy.

79
Goal
 

They're not finished yet! Villa heads passed Keller on the six yard box. A fully deserved goal for Derby.

78
Goal
 

That could be it for Derby. It was a long punt up field by Fulham. Kamara latched onto it but his shot was saved by Carroll only to fall at the feet of Bouazza to drive home.

75

Into the final quarter of an hour. Can one of these teams keep their survival hopes alive with a late win?

73

Earnshaw fires in a left footed volley that Keller does well to block and the Fulham defenders clear.

71
Yellow Card
 

Konchesky is booked for dissent.

70

Savage should have scored. Good work by Villa and Lewis saw the midfielder race through on goal with just Keller to beat but he shot straight at the keeper. Bad miss.

68

A warning for Derby as Bullard sends in a great cross looking for Kamara but Sterjovski did well to get back and clear the danger.

66

A groan goes around Pride Park as Lewis hits the free kick straight out of play.

65

Derby win a free kick in a dangerous position just wide of the Fulham box after Konchesky brings down Earnshaw .

63
Yellow Card
 

Andreasen gets a booking for bringing down Villa. It was a tackle out of frustration because Derby are starting to dominate.

60

Keller does brilliantly to tip Sterjovski's 25 yard thunderbolt over the bar. Derby have just upped the tempo here but can't beat Keller.

58

It's a great atmosphere at Pride Park - even though both sides look like they're on their way back to the Championship.

55

Earnshaw misses an open goal for Derby - but it was a difficult chance. Keller completely missed a back pass but Earnshaw was forced wide and couldn't find the back of the net from the angle.

54

Almost third time lucky for Bullard. The midfielder arrowed his free kick for the top right hand corner but his shot smashed onto the Derby crossbar and away to safety.

52

Close for Derby but Earnshaw just strayed offside. The little striker didn't know the flag had gone up though - and hit his shot wide from six yards out.

49

But it's Lewis who tries his luck but can't beat the Fulham wall. Wasted chance.

48
Yellow Card
 

Bouazza goes into the book for a high tackle on Savage. The foul was in a dangerous position on the edge of the Fulham box. Jones looks like he's going to take the free kick.

46

No changes for either side as we get underway in the second half at Pride Park. It's looking like a must win for Fulham now while if the score is the same at full time, Derby will be relegated.

Half time
 

Derby will be slightly disappointed to be going in all square at half time. The home side had the better chances in an entertaining first period, but with their relegation rivals winning it could be too late for both these teams.

42

News that Birmingham are beating Man City and Bolton are 1 up against Arsenal make this game a bit like two bald blokes fighting over a comb.

39

Both sides look vulnerable to the counter-attack. It was Fulham that broke this time but Hangeland fired over from Bullard's cross.

36
Substitution
 

Miller is forced to leave the field with a dead leg. Earnshaw comes on.

34

So nearly 2-1 to Derby. Jones brought the ball out of midfield and unleashed a vicious drive that flew just wide of the Fulham goal.

31

Savage goes flying into Andreasen with a crunching tackle - but it was a fair challenge by the Welshman despite the Fulham protests.

28
Yellow Card
 

Todd is the first into the book after a trip on McBride.

28

This one could go either way. Both teams are passing the ball well and it feels like there's going to be more goals.

25

Derby fans scream for a penalty! It looked like Sterjovski's goal bound shot hit Hangeland's arm - but ref Mike Dean waved play on.

23
Goal
 

Fulham hit back with a well worked goal. Davies delivers a great angled ball into the Derby box and Kamara was in acres of space to head home from four yards out. 1-1.

21

Neat play by Miller. The Scotland international played a lovely ball to Savage but he couldn't control the pass and Keller came out to save it.

19

Savage wastes a good chance for Derby. The former Blackburn midfielder had a golden opportunity to deliver a dangerous cross into the Fulham box, but he hit the first defender and the ball is cleared.

17

Fulham look like they've recovered from going behind and are starting to control the game again. Davies is having a fine game for the visitors and is giving the Derby players a torrid time.

15

Bullard tries his luck from 25 yards but again, his effort sails wide of Carroll's goal.

13

Derby look a different side since they scored - The Rams have started to pass the ball confidently and look like they might double their advantage.

10
Goal
 

Incredible - Derby score with their first shot at goal. It was all Fulham in the early exchanges but Villa scores his second of the season after his shot deflects in off a Fulham defender.

8

McBride appeals to ref Mike Dean for a penalty but it looked like a fair challenge by Jones. Derby have yet to trouble Keller in the Fulham goal.

6

Kamara does brilliantly to dispossess Todd but he over hits a pass to Bouazza. Fulham have started brightly here.

4

Bouazza looks lively. He turned makeshift full back Lewis and fired in a dangerous cross that Carroll did well to smother. Fulham could get some joy down the flanks.

2

Bullard tries a cheeky shot from 35 yards out but the ball flies high and wide of Carroll's goal.

1

We're off and underway at Pride Park as the rain starts to lash down. Home supporters are in fine voice though - despite their team's lowly league position.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

In this meeting of the bottom two in the Premier League, a Fulham win will see Derby return to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Fulham can close the gap at the bottom to one point if results go their way but in truth, both sides look destined for the drop.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

That said, the Rams are currently on 10 points and manager Paul Jewel will be desperate to overhaul the 15 points secured by Sunderland in the 2005/2006 season - the worst tally ever recording in a Premier League season.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Derby: Carroll, Todd, Leacock, Moore, Lewis, Sterjovski, Ghaly, Savage, Jones, Miller, Villa

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Fulham: Keller, Stalteri, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Andreasen, Bouazza, McBride, Kamara