3 things we clearly learnt about Derby County after their 1-0 victory over Preston

Derby County moved to within six points adrift of Championship safety with a 1-0 victory over Preston North End yesterday afternoon. 

The Rams, who already possess a much better goal difference than their survival-chasing counterparts, moved from bottom spot after yesterday’s victory.

Ravel Morrison, who came on with half of the second 45 left to play, netted the sole goal of the game with 10 minutes left to play. 

Here, we take a look at three things we learnt about Derby after yesterday’s important victory…

Defence could be crucial 

The Rams have been defensively impressive all season, and whilst Phil Jagielka left for Stoke City in January, Eiran Cashin has stepped into the fray admirably. 

Only Stoke City in the bottom half of the Championship have conceded fewer goals than Wayne Rooney’s side, with their defensive resilience a big positive for them as they try to avoid the Championship drop. 

Curtis Davies has once again been excellent this season, whilst Nathan Byrne and Lee Buchanan have also been dependable defensively, whilst both have threatened going forward too. 

Tom Lawrence can play a pivotal role going forward 

Tom Lawrence has been excellent in a Derby shirt over the years, with the club’s captain being a constant source of positivity yesterday afternoon. 

The experienced midfielder is likely to play a big role in what remains of this season, in and amongst the exciting, youthful talent that the Rams possess. 

Lawrence’s ability to break defensive lines and contribute with strong performances on a consistent basis will keep derby fans spirited during the crunch end of this Championship campaign. 

Home form 

Derby have averaged 1.85 PPG on home soil this season and are unbeaten in their last three at Pride