Derby County vs Queen's Park Rangers match report: Andreas Weimann gives Rams an edge again

Derby County 1 Queen’s Park Rangers 0

Andreas Weimann was again on target for Derby County (Reuters)

After eight wins in an unbeaten run of 10 matches, Paul Clement’s Derby County are looking increasingly potent promotion challengers in the Championship, which is more than can be said for ailing Rangers, who have slipped into the bottom half of the table after only two victories in their last 10.

Rangers enjoyed plenty of the ball in an even game but could not find a reply to Andreas Weimann’s goal early in the second half and the result leaves their manager, Chris Ramsey, facing an uncertain future only six months after signing a three-year contract.

To compound their woes, the Londoners had defender James Perch sent off in the last minute for a second bookable offence.

Rangers were at least resilient enough to deny the home side a clear first-half chance. It took Derby 22 minutes to carve out an opportunity to test goalkeeper Rob Green and in the event a block by Perch sent Johnny Russell’s shot out for a corner.

Derby’s play gained momentum after that, with Jeff Hendrick a whisker away from converting a low Weimann cross as Green dived in bravely, before Chris Martin failed to make good contact with Russell’s free-kick.

Rangers were just as threatening going forward and had their shooting been more accurate they could have been ahead by the break. Charlie Austin, Daniel Tozser and Yun Suk-young all wasted openings by blazing over the bar.

Instead, early into the second half, it was Derby who went in front, Weimann driving home an angled left-foot shot after defender Richard Keogh had controlled a cross from the right and steered the ball in his direction.

It was the Austrian’s second goal in as many matches after opening his account for Derby against Rotherham on Saturday and came just moments after a Jacob Butterfield effort had hit a post, with Green beaten.

Derby had been forced to make a change after 20 minutes after left back Craig Forsyth was carried off, following an awkward fall, and lost his replacement, Stephen Warnock, also to injury, in the second half.

Derby County (4-3-3): Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth (Baird, 21; Warnock, 77); Hendrick (Hanson, 83), Johnson, Butterfield; Russell, Martin, Weimann. Substitutes not used Grant (gk), Bryson, Bent, Pearce.

Queen’s Park Rangers (4-4-1-1): Green; Perch, Onuoha, Hall, Konchesky; Henry, Faurlin (Blackwood, 84), Tozser (Fer, 76), Yun (Hoilett, 66); Phillips; Austin. Substitutes not used Smithies (gk), Doughty, Angella, Polter.

Referee K Stroud (Hampshire).