Derby 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday: Victory for the Rams

Sheffield Wednesday again left Derby empty-handed as they went down 2-0 in a pulsating game at the iPro Stadium.

The visitors were the better side for long periods in front of a 30,000 crowd but failed to take their chances and were beaten by a Cyrus Christie header and Alex Pearce's first goal for Derby, who moved away from the bottom three.

Perhaps the result was no surprise as Derby were unbeaten in their previous 16 matches in all competitions against the Owls.

Wednesday came under early pressure when Jacob Butterfield's 20-yard shot was tipped over by Cameron Dawson in the second minute but they hit back and twice came close to scoring in the space of 60 seconds, with their bench convinced they should have been awarded a penalty.

Adam Reach jinked his way into the box in the sixth minute and when the ball was played across, Kieran Lee's shot was deflected behind for a corner. Derby failed to get the ball clear and after Scott Carson clawed out Fernando Forestieri's header, Barry Bannan chipped to the back post where Reach's shot appeared to strike the hand of Richard Keogh.

Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal was furious no penalty was given and his sense of injustice deepened when Derby scored in the 17th minute. Christie won the corner that Tom Ince swung over and although Darren Bent failed to connect, the defender headed past Dawson from six yards.

It was only the second time this season Derby had scored in the first half and although Wednesday looked dangerous, they almost had another in the 43rd minute when Christie crossed from the right and Bent's powerful header flashed just over.

Forestieri should have scored in the 56th minute when Gary Hooper set him up but he blazed over from 12 yards and he did better four minutes later with a low drive that forced Carson into an excellent save.

But against the run of play, Derby scored again when Butterfield's shot from just outside the box was deflected to Pearce who slid the ball in from eight yards. Forestieri forced Carson into another save at his near post as Wednesday tried to get back in the game but Derby were only denied a third by an outstanding save from Dawson, who turned away a Butterfield shot in the 88th minute.

Derby boss Steve McClaren:

"Game's are turned on that one way or another and it turned our way and what you have to do in those instances is take advantage and that's what we did.

"It didn't stop Sheffield Wednesday playing the way they did, they kept coming forward and creating chances, but it was maybe the luck we didn't have last week we got this week. The ref has to make a snap decision and it went our way.

"It's a huge win, we said put a marker down at five o'clock and they've done that. There were aspects of the performance that improved immensely and we created chances as well."

Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal:

"In my opinion, it's the worst decision in the Championship so far. I have seen nothing like it this season. It's so clear, I don't understand it. I have nothing against the ref, nothing against the person but the decision was very, very poor and it had a big impact on the game.

"I don't understand the decision. People talk a lot about how we need technology but why do we need a camera or a video when we have three referees on the pitch, one of them must see it. They have communication and can say it's a clear penalty."