Rams defeat Valiants in Pride Park Sky Bet League One clash.
The Rams took the lead after just four minutes in fairly fortuitous fashion. Louie Sibley met a low cross from the right with side footed finish that deflected off two Vale players before finding its way past Connor Ripley.
Derby came close to doubling their lead in the eighth minute when Curtis Nelson headed over from a corner from the right.
The hosts flew out the blocks and came close again when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing got in behind and looked to round the keeper, but Connor Ripley recovered well and made a smart save at his near post. The Rams recycled the move and came close again when Max Bird let fly from range, but Ripley was again on hand to turn it around the post.
The Rams wasted another chance after fifteen minutes when Joe Ward burst down the right and crossed for Tom Barkhuizen but his effort was well over the bar from inside the area.
Vale’s first real attack came just after the half hour mark when James Plant and Gavin Massey linked up well down the right side. Plant’s ball played Massey in behind but his low cross was well cleared at the back post.
Despite Vale growing into the game, it was Derby who doubled their lead two mins before the break. Joe Ward held the ball up down right side and picked out the run of Curtis Nelson who crossed for Dwight Gayle to head home into the bottom corner.
In the second half, The Vale started the brighter of the two sides and had their best chance of the game after a minute. Jensen Weir’s corner from the right was met by the head of Ben Garrity who saw his header go agonisingly wide of Joe Wildsmith’s far post.
On the hour mark, the hosts added a third when Louie Sibley scored his second of the game. Joe Ward’s deep cross from the byline fell to Sibley at the back post who took a touch and fired home from the left side of the box.
In the 77th minute second half substitute Corey Blackett-Taylor cut inside from the left side before fizzing a shot over from just inside the area.
Five minutes from time Ben Garrity picked up a loose ball in the midfield and drove into the Derby box, muscled past Eiran Cashin before firing the wrong side of the far post with his left foot.
TEAM NEWS
Derby County | Joe Wildsmith, Sonny Bradley (C), Eiran Cashin, Tom Barkhuizen (Korey Smith 77’), Max Bird, Nathaniel Mednez-Laing (Corey Blackett-Taylor 74’), Louie Sibley, Joe Ward, Dwight Gayle (Martyn Waghorn 67’) Ebou Adams (Conor Hourihane 77’), Curtis Nelson
Subs not used: Scott Loach, Kane Wilson, Liam Thompson, Corey Blackett-Taylor
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Kacper Lopata, Ben Garrity ©, Ethan Chislett (Baylee Dipepa 45’), Funso Ojo, Alex Iacovitti (Nathan Smith 77’), Gavin Massey, Jensen Weir, James Plant (Alex Mighten 90’), Jack Shorrock (Mitch Clark 62’), Jesse Debrah
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Jason Lowe, Rhys Walters