Chris Martin's first-half double sees Derby sink Preston 2-1 at DeepdaleChris Martin's first-half double gave Derby their first Championship win of the season against newly-promoted Preston at Deepdale.Preston dominated the second half and pulled one back late on through Daniel Johnson but could not force an equaliser as the Rams claimed a 2-1 win.After a strong start to the season, defeat makes it three losses in a row for Simon Grayson's Championship new boys while Derby tasted victory after three draws and a defeat.The visitors started the brighter of the two sides and when Neil Kilkenny was dispossessed in the 10th minute, new signing Bradley Johnson's shot from 20 yards was deflected just over the bar.Preston's Johnson had an opening in the 22nd minute, but his strike from 18 yards was superbly blocked by Richard Keogh before the centre half cleared away from Will Keane.But Derby pounced on the counter-attack from the resulting cornerA brilliant diagonal ball over the top by Johnny Russell picked out Martin, who slotted under Jordan Pickford from six yards to give Derby the lead in a match for the first time this season.And Johnson almost made it two in the 24th minute, but poked into the side netting from six yards after being picked out by Tom Ince from the right edge of the area.Derby were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after 36 minutes when John Welsh fouled Russell and they took full advantage
Martin stepped up and thumped the ball into the top corner to double the visitors' lead.Joe Garner burst into life after 57 minutes, picking the ball up just inside the Derby half before driving at the defence and unleashing a fierce strike from 20 yards which was well held by Grant.And Preston's second-half pressure continued with Kilkenny firing an effort just wide from 25 yards after 63 minutes before new signing Stevie May had a chance to halve the deficit after 74 minutes but his strike from the left edge of the area was palmed away by Grant.Grayson's side came within inches of scoring in the 77th minute, but new man Eoin Doyle's shot from 15 yards was brilliantly tipped wide by Grant.And they came even closer in the 79th minute, when Doyle teed up Garner whose strike from 12 yards came back off the inside of the post.On 82 minutes, there was a nasty clash of heads between Garner and Chris Baird
The game was held up for 10 minutes before Baird was carried off on a stretcher and taken to hospital as Derby finished the game with 10 men.Preston made the most of the extra man when Daniel Johnson's shot from 20 yards deflected past Grant and into the bottom corner but Derby held on for the first win of Paul Clement's reign
Source : PA
Source: PA