Bent Penalty Gives Derby Win Over Birmingham

Darren Bent's penalty earned Derby an eighth win in nine Championship matches and ensured a second consecutive defeat for Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola.

Following a lacklustre first half, increasing home pressure resulted in Bent confidently scoring after Michael Morrison bundled over Richard Keogh.

With Will Hughes outstanding in midfield, Derby continued to create.

But they did not need a second goal to secure a win which takes them to within a point of the play-off places.

The away side's best spell came in the final moments, but even then, the hosts had little trouble dealing with several hopeful crosses into the box.

Chances were limited throughout, particularly in a frantic first half devoid of much goalmouth incident or quality in the final third.

Johnny Russell's clever ball in saw Bent head wide, before a neat turn and clever dinked pass by Hughes found Russell, but a lurking Bent could not get on the end of the first-time cross.

At the other end, Birmingham's Lukas Jutkiewicz badly miscued a shot when well placed before the interval.

But the Rams played with greater urgency after the interval, with Hughes increasingly influential, and Bent's fourth goal of the season secured a sixth win in seven home games.