' Cardiff City v Derby County Match Reports'

Result: Derby County win at Cardiff City to move back into second place

By Christopher Dodd, SportsMole

An own goal from Scott Malone and a standout header from Chris Martin earned Derby County a comfortable 2-0 win away at Cardiff City in the Championship this afternoon.

The victory now sees Steve McLaren's men sitting back in second position in the league standings, as they seek to gain automatic promotion into the Premier League come the end of the season.

County had the chance to take the lead after nine minutes when City man Matthew Connolly brought down Chris Martin in the box, but the forward was unable to convert the spot-kick as Simon Moore made a standout save down low.

The away side did eventually take the lead in the 23rd minute and it came in a rather suspect manner, as Cardiff's Scott Malone somehow managed to divert the ball into his own net having tried to prevent a cross.

Cardiff looked a little frustrated in the first half, as Alex Revell sought to test Lee Grant from range, but the keeper wasn't to be moved.

Derby doubled their lead right on the stroke of half time when Martin made up for his penalty miss with a wonderfully-guided header following Cyrus Christie's cross.

The away side sought to cement all three points in the second half when Mason Bennett was found by Will Hughes, only for Moore to come up with a great save down at his bottom-left corner.

Revell returned for City with a chance of his own, this time as he fluffed his lines with a time effort straight at Grant from the centre of the County box, before mustering another effort from range that was easily saved

Tan was he at the game? Slade has to go.

Cardiff City 0 v 2 Derby County match report: Sorry Bluebirds outclassed again in front of disgruntled fans

31 January 2015 By Steve Tucker, Wales Online

ardiff City made it just one win in their last nine Championship outings as they lost 2-0 at home to high-flying Derby.

An own goal from the Bluebirds' Scott Malone and a header from Chris Martin just before half-time were enough to increase the pressure on Bluebirds boss Russell Slade.

Slade handed debuts to new signings Lee Peltier and Stuart O’Keefe and switched things around with Peter Whittingham more advanced. The home side looked slightly sturdier than they had of late but, as seems typical right now, trouble was never far away.

On nine minutes Aron Gunnarsson brought Martin down in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Martin himself took it, but Simon Moore in the Bluebirds goal saved superbly, going down to his right to push the spot-kick away.

It proved a brief reprieve for the Bluebirds though. On 23 minutes Jamie Ward fired the ball across the face of goal and the hapless Malone turned it into his own net.

Slade’s men found it hard to create a chance for the equaliser. On 33 minutes Whittingham played a cute ball through to give Alex Revell a chance, but the striker shot straight into the arms of Lee Grant in the Rams’ goal.

And just before the break Steve McClaren’s men were two up as Cyrus Christie crossed and Martin sneaked in at the back post to head home from close range.

In the second-half the Bluebirds looked for a way back but failed to trouble Derby who, in truth, appeared like they had a few more gears to move into if needed.

It took the arrival of top-scorer Kenwyne Jones from the bench to force Grant into action. The Ram’s ‘keeper doing well to push Jones’ firm header over on 65 minutes. The visitors saw things out comfortably after that to leave the Cardiff boss Slade facing increasing pressure after a dismal run of form.

Cheers Owain