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Derby logo
Championship
Nov 8, 2014 at 12.15pm UK
 
Wolves logo

5-0

Shotton (16'), Hendrick (28', 55'), Russell (42', 60')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Live Commentary: Derby County 5-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers - as it happened

Find out how Derby County trounced Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-0 to go top of the Championship.
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Top-six sides Derby County and Wolverhampton Wanderers met in the Championship's early kickoff this afternoon.

Derby proved far too strong for the visitors, annihilating them 5-0 to go top of the table.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Morning all! The first game in the Football League today sees top-six Championship sides Derby and Wolves go head to head at the iPro. Team news on the way...

DERBY XI: Butland; Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth; Mascarell, Hughes, Hendrick; Russell, Dawkins, Martin
Subs: Roos, Buxton, Coutts, Eustace, Calero, Best, Ibe

That's one Derby change to the side that edged out Huddersfield Town 3-2 in midweek. Out goes Liverpool loanee Jordan Ibe, in comes Simon Dawkins. It was always going to be a tough choice for Rams boss Steve McClaren to pick from Ibe, Dawkins and Johnny Russell to partner Chris Martin in attack, and Ibe is the one who's missed out.

In the video below, Derby first-team coach Paul Simpson discusses the Rams' team news and today's game:


WOLVES XI: Ikeme; Doherty, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Ricketts; McDonald, Evans, Henry, Saville, Sako; Clarke
Subs: Kuszczak, Stearman, Rowe, Van La Parra, McAlinden, Jacobs, Dicko

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett makes two changes to the side that were beaten 2-1 at Ipswich Town on Tuesday night. Dave Edwards suffered an injury at Portman Road and is replaced by George Saville, while at the back, Sam Ricketts gets the nod ahead of Tommy Rowe.

Here's how the visitors line up today:

The predicted Wolves line-up for today's game. #DCFCvWWFC

A video posted by Official Wolves (@officialwolves) on


Jackett was hoping to welcome back number-one striker Nouha Dicko today, but he's only fit enough for a place on the bench. Wolves fans will be desperate for a good Leon Clarke display after some sheepish outings recently.

Click here to see the latest Championship table ahead of today's 11 games. A win for Derby here would take them two clear at the top, while a draw would be enough for the Rams to go level on points with current pacesetters Bournemouth and Middlesbrough. Wolves are still in the top six, despite a run of two winless games, but can go level on points with the top two with a win.

There was one game last night, by the way, and it involved two sides at the other end of the table. Bolton Wanderers continued their good form under Neil Lennon with a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic. Read all about the game at the Macron with our match report here.

REFEREE WATCH: The man with the whistle this lunchtime is Graham Salisbury, who was at Elland Road on Tuesday for the 2-2 draw between Leeds United and Charlton Athletic.

Here's the walk that the Wolves players will be making this afternoon from the dressing room. It looks a little wet in the East Midlands!

Tunnel walk at the iPro Stadium. #DCFCvWWFC

A video posted by Official Wolves (@officialwolves) on


These two sides were last in the same division together in the 2012-13 Championship - the year Wolves were relegated down to League One. Both games between the two finished as draws that season, while Wolves are unbeaten in five games against Derby having won the previous three before those two draws.

It's a big day for veteran Welshman Ricketts today. He leads Wolves out as captain for what will be just his second start of the season.

PREDICTION: Just five minutes until kickoff at the iPro. I think it's hard to look past Derby given their solid home form and Wolves' struggles of late. I reckon it will be 3-1 to the Rams.

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel and there's a lovely poppy display on the day before Remembrance Sunday. We will have a minute's silence before kickoff.



It's a touching, perfectly-observed tribute by the players and fans at the iPro. It really is raining quite heavily.

KICKOFF! Wolves get us underway as the rain continues to lash down on the players.

A great start by Derby! Christie wins the Rams an early corner that is played short and results in a strong penalty appeal by the home side. Hughes fed the ball into Martin, who in turn cleverly flicked it on to Russell. The Scot moved into the area before falling far too easily for my, and the referee's, liking.

Derby County v Wolves

A photo posted by Official Wolves (@officialwolves) on


Little to speak of since that electric start by the home side. Derby are still seeing more of the ball, with Wolves barely enjoying any possession in their opponent's half.

Batth, who is one yellow card away from a suspension, is lucky to escape a booking after body-checking Hughes, who had nicked the ball away and was trying to burst into the area.

CHANCE! A decent opening from the resulting free kick as Mascarell's inswinger lands on the head of Shotton, but he can't keep his effort down as the ball floats over the top.

I was at Portman Road on Tuesday night for the game between Ipswich and Wolves and Jackett's side really struggled to deal with the constant pressing and energy of Ipswich. Derby have been similarly buzzy in the early stages and it's leading to plenty of possession for the Rams.

Mascarell's set pieces have been really impressive so far. The Real Madrid loanee sends over a corner that is met by no-one before Wolves just about manage to survive. Had the ball ricocheted in another direction, it could have been an easy tap-in for a man in white.

Although Derby started this game as favourites and have looked like the better side early on, history isn't on their side. They've won just one of their last 15 league clashes against Wolves.

BOOKING! Wolves right-back Doherty is the first name in Salisbury's book after hauling back Dawkins. Easy one for the referee that.

GOAL! DERBY 1-0 WOLVES (SHOTTON)

He might have made a mess of an earlier header, but Shotton doesn't do the same this time. Mascarell with another perfect delivery and this time Shotton flicks it at goal and Ikeme can only palm it against the underside of the bar. It looks as though he might have saved it, but the ball drops into the net. The Rams take a deserved lead.

CLOSE! Wolves win their first corner and it's a clever routine that they produce, with Sako curling a difficult first-time effort a yard or so over the bar.

Clarke isn't happy as he is adjudged to have fouled Keogh when challenging for a bouncing ball. The former needs to have an impact soon, otherwise Jackett will surely want to get Dicko on as soon as possible. The other thing that might dictate when Dicko comes on is just how fit he is.

MISS! Oh dear! Saville with a terrible miss that would have drawn Wolves level. It was the visitors' first good move of the game as Sako used his strength in midfield before feeding the overlapping Ricketts. His cutback found the unmarked Saville, who swiped at it with his left foot and somehow missed the target from 10 yards.

Sako is Wolves' biggest threat and their top scorer this season. He goes for goal from at least 30 yards and even though Butland looks a little worried, he's able to see the ball past the post. Even though it was a long way out, given the slippery conditions, you can see why he thought it might be right to have a go.

GOAL! DERBY 2-0 WOLVES (HENDRICK)

It's a first league goal since the opening day of the season for Irish international Hendrick. I said moments ago about how the conditions might favour a squirmy low short and that's exactly what this is from Hendrick. He runs onto Dawkins's chested layoff before working the ball onto his right foot and powering a low drive past Ikeme into the net. I think the Wolves keeper will be a little disappointed with that because it wasn't right in the corner.

Wolves will really struggle to pick themselves up after that suckerpunch. Since Derby opened the scoring, they looked like the side most likely to score the second, but they've been hit against the run of play and now have a mountain to climb.

Saville is really lucky to avoid a booking and maybe even a straight red card. He 'clotheslined' Martin in the middle of the park. That was very dangerous and, for me, probably worthy of a red card. What on earth was he thinking?!

UPDATE: There's an early kickoff in the Premier League too and a tasty clash as well between Liverpool and Chelsea. There's already been an early goal and you can find out who's broke the deadlock with our live commentary. Open that link in a new tab and follow both games, lovely stuff.



GOAL! DERBY 3-0 WOLVES (RUSSELL)

That is an awful, awful goal to concede. Mascarell's corner is another good'un that Keogh heads back across goal at the back post. Wolves half-clear it, but Russell collects on the edge of the area and is somehow allowed to drive onto his left foot before burying it into the bottom corner. There are at least six Wolves players within a five-yard circle in the box and they all just look at each other trying to find someone to blame. Unacceptable.

CLOSE! Derby are so close to a fourth! yet another Mascarell delivery causes problems, with Hendrick flicking it towards the back post. Keogh is coming in and should maybe throw himself at it a little more, but the ball flies past the post.

Derby are piling on the pressure here and want a fourth before the break. In the last minute of added time, Martin goes for league goal number 11 for the season with a 25-yard free kick that whizzes over the top.

HALF-TIME: DERBY 3-0 WOLVES

A blistering half by the home side, but Wolves only have themselves to blame really. Both goals they conceded at Ipswich on Tuesday were down to errors and Derby have punished their carelessness today as well.

I'm not quite sure what Jackett will be saying to his players in the dressing room, but it certainly won't be pleasant. They had a good spell after Derby scored the first where they should have equalised through Saville, but apart from that, another poor display by the men in orange.

If you're only just joining us and want a quick first-half recap, check out our half-time report.

AS THINGS STAND in the Championship, Derby are going two points clear at the top of the table. Wolves are still in the top six, but they probably won't still be there come 5pm.

Derby might not stay top themselves, but with previous top two Bournemouth and Middlesbrough playing each other, they will probably be in the top two by the end of the day.

I mentioned earlier that Jackett would want to try to get on Dicko as soon as possible, but it might not be worth risking him. If Wolves can grab an early goal in the second half, then Jackett might want to get him on.

WOLVES SUB: Jackett makes a half-time change, but it's at the back as Richard Stearman replaces Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

KICKOFF! And we're back underway at the iPro.

Derby are playing with such confidence and with both Wolves full-backs on yellow cards, I fear that one of the visitors could get sent off in the second half. Henry was also cautioned in the first period for the visitors.

Wolves create a half-chance down one end, but as they're piling bodies forward there will be a lot of space for Derby to counter. That's exactly what they do through Dawkins, who cuts inside from the left and feeds Mascarell, whose shot is nowhere near the goal.

SHOT! Gorgeous one-touch football from Derby. Mascarell pounces on a loose ball and does a 'Maradona' spin turn before some intricate passing on the edge of the box results in Dawkins firing over the top.

Wolves should hit Derby on the break, but Sako's through-ball for the unmarked Clarke is overhit.

GOAL! DERBY 4-0 WOLVES (HENDRICK)

Game over! Wolves needed to score early in the second half to have any chance of pulling off a crazy comeback, but it's Derby who net the fourth to go out of sight. Yet more sumptuous stuff from the Rams, but it all came, yet again, from a loose Wolves pass. Take nothing away from Derby though, it was another free-flowing move that ended with Hughes reversing it perfectly into the path of Hendrick to slot home for his second goal of the game.

OFF THE POST! Wolves come within inches of getting on the scoresheet as Clarke's left-foot shot from outside the box takes a deflection and spins off the outside of the post. From the resulting corner, McDonald fires a tough chance over the top.

GOAL! DERBY 5-0 WOLVES (RUSSELL)

Just before the hour mark, Derby go five up! It's another fine, fine goal by the Rams as Forsyth's deep cross is perfect for Russell to notch his second with a right-foot finish. The Rams are racing clear at the top.

BOOKING! Christie becomes the first Derby player to be cautioned after bringing down Henry on the wing.

Jackett must be watching in complete despair and will no doubt be glad for the upcoming two-week international break. Derby, on the other hand, will want to get out and play again as soon as possible!

Given how close the top 10 or so sides are in the Championship, all these goals are really useful for Derby's goal difference. They now have 20 home goals this season and their overall goal difference is +17, which is the joint-best with Bournemouth.

BOOKING! Saville is booked for a nasty lunge in the middle of the park. It really wouldn't surprise me if the visitors have a men sent off given how frustrated and angry some of the players look.

WOLVES SUB: Liam McAlinden is on for Clarke up front and he has a chance almost straight away that is saved at the near post by Butland.

From the resulting corner, Sako's inswinger is flicked inadvertently into the danger area by Martin but somehow it goes all the way through without getting a touch. It should be another corner, but a goal kick is given.

SHOT! Saville probably shouldn't be on the pitch after that clothesline on Martin earlier and the nasty tackle for which he was booked moments ago, but he almost scores for Wolves with a low shot that Butland keeps out.

SUBS: Both managers make a change, with Tommy Rowe replacing Evans for Wolves and Jordon Ibe coming on for Dawkins for Derby.

Stearman clears well from under his own crossbar after a dangerous low cross from Hughes, who was nicely slipped in by Ibe.

Excellent covering by Doherty to prevent Ibe collecting Martin's pass and maybe making it six for Derby. The hosts don't look at all happy with five and are definitely going for more.

CLOSE! Wolves come close to a consolation as McAlinden meets a cross from Sako and flicks it just wide.

The rain is absolutely teeming down at the iPro, but it hasn't completely dampened the spirit of the travelling Wolves fans. To be fair to them, they're trying to enjoy themselves and are doing the 'Let's Pretend We've Scored A Goal' chant.

DERBY SUB: McClaren makes his second change, taking off two-goal Russell for young Spaniard Ivan Calero.

Martin is in a good position to block Sako's weak effort on goal, but he then gives it straight back to the Wolves winger when trying to dribble out of his own area. Henry then gets it and his cross is flicked backwards by Forsyth, but luckily for Derby it's easy for Butland to claim.

DERBY SUB: Paul Coutts replaces Mascarell in midfield for the Rams. The latter was really impressive in the first half with his pinpoint set pieces.

CHANCES! Derby almost score their sixth as Coutts's first touch is a shot that Ikeme palms out before Christie hits the rebound as hard as possible. Unfortunately, whoever is sat in Row Z is in more danger than Wolves from that shot.

FULL-TIME: DERBY 5-0 WOLVES

Derby at their brilliant best as they beat Wolves at home for the first time in over 20 years. It's easy to see why so many think that the Rams are the favourites for promotion this season.

Derby are back to the top of the table, but if either Middlesbrough or Bournemouth win their meeting at the Riverside then the Rams will be displaced. They're virtually guaranteed a spot in the top two come the end of the day, though.

As for Wolves, they stay sixth but could fall to as low as 10th depending on other results later today. Jackett's side are now without a win in three games.

We need to dash off, but make sure you have a click around to find plenty more live football this afternoon on SM. We'll be covering the meeting of Bournemouth and Boro in around 15 minutes, so look out for that as well!

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Derby County's English manager Steve McClaren stands on the sideline during the English Championship Play Off final football match between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers at Wembley Stadium in London on May 24, 2014
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24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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