Our Ella Barber reports from Pride Park
Dominant Derby County boosted their promotion hopes with an emphatic 3-0 win over Leyton Orient at Pride Park.
The result keeps Derby second in League One and puts automatic promotion back in the hands of the Rams, following Bolton’s 1-1 draw at home to league leaders Portsmouth.
A brace from man of the match Sonny Bradley as well as a George Moncur own goal secured victory for the Rams, which ensures that Derby will be promoted from League One if they are able to win their two remaining fixtures.
The O’s were unable to deal with Derby’s set-piece threat, conceding all three goals from corner kicks.
Paul Warne’s Derby side started the game on the front-foot, taking a two goal lead inside 20 minutes.
The first came 10 minutes in, when the ball deflected off George Moncur into his own net following an excellent corner from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
It only took eight minutes for the hosts to double their lead with experienced centre-back Sonny Bradley getting on the scoresheet on his return from a three-match suspension.
It was a clinical finish from the defender, who received the ball from Louie Sibley’s precise corner before smashing the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot from close range.
Derby continued to control the game throughout the rest of the first half, taking a comfortable lead into half-time.
The O’s lacked attacking impetus throughout the half, and struggled to create chances, failing to test Joe Wildsmith in the Derby net during the half.
The Rams started the second half strongly, with Mendez-Laing a constant threat. The forward was a bright spark throughout the game, wreaking havoc for the Orient defence.
He went close to adding a third for Derby on numerous occasions, striking just over the bar early in the second half before being denied by the on-rushing Sol Brynn minutes later.
Sonny Bradley doubled his goal tally to finally give Derby a thoroughly deserved three goal lead in the 86th minute.
Substitute Connor Hourihane received the ball from a corner before delivering a floating cross into the box, which was brilliantly headed into the bottom left corner by the 32-year-old.
It was another lapse in concentration from the O’s as the Derby defender was left totally unmarked in the box to head home Derby’s third.
The Rams have two crucial must-win games ahead as they look to secure promotion back to the Championship, starting with a tough trip to Cambridge United next Saturday.
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