Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Derby suffered their 15th defeat of the season as Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Pride Park.

Rams captain Matt Oakley opened the scoring for the home side before Roque Santa Cruz's equaliser, a minute after Brad Friedel saved a Steve Howard penalty, and David Bentley's strike from distance gave Mark Hughes' side all three points.

The result leaves Paul Jewell and his team eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, while Rovers move above West ham into ninth.

Although Derby had to endure large spells of Blackburn possession and creativity, they were positive going forward themselves, and just before the half hour mark Lewis' diagonal ball was knocked on by Giles Barnes for captain Oakley to mark his 250th league appearance by firing the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Friedel.

The goal marked the consecutive game in which Blackburn had conceded the first goal, and it knocked the visitors out of their stride somewhat, and soon afterwards Ryan Nelsen fouled Kenny Miller in the area.

Referee Peter Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but resisted handing the Blackburn captain a second yellow card to go with the one he picked up just a few minutes previously.

In what proved to be the start of two minutes of heartbreak for Derby, Howard's spot-kick was saved by Friedel, who dived low to his right and kept hold of the ball.

Blackburn went straight up the other end and Lewis Price could only parry Benni McCarthy's shot into the path of Santa Cruz for a close range finish.

Things got worse for Derby three minutes later when the impressive Bentley made space for himself to shoot from 25 yards out and his low swerving shot had Price well beaten for what proved to be the winning goal.

It had looked as though Santa Cruz was destined not to add to his seven goals in his previous four matches when his header from a corner was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mears in the sixth minute.

He was denied again in the first half when Bentley turned Dean Leacock inside out on the left wing before sending in a perfect cross for the Paraguayan to head in, only for the goal to be ruled out because the cross had swung out of play before it reached the far post, before having another effort cleared off the line late on as Derby pushed for the equaliser that never came..

reference: "eurosport"