Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Conor Hourihane scored as Derby extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 18 games with a 2-1 win over League One play-off rivals Bolton.
Wanderers had conceded only once in eight outings before Mendez-Laing set the fourth-placed Rams on the way to a fifth straight win after 16 minutes.
Defender Will Aimson was initially credited with turning Tom Barkhuizen’s right wing cross into his own net, but Mendez-Laing’s sixth goal of the season, and first in 2023, was later confirmed.
More than 30,000 watched the third tier’s match of the day, and the home crowd celebrated a second goal 18 minutes from time.
Mendez-Laing and then Barkhuizen combined for Hourihane to power in his sixth of the campaign.
Bolton have never won at Pride Park or achieved an away win over the Rams since 1981, and they were unable to avoid a first defeat in nine games despite substitute Kieran Sadlier’s stoppage-time consolation.
Match report supplied by PA Media
Line-ups
Derby
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Wildsmith
- 12Smith
- 33Davies
- 3Forsyth
- 15Roberts
- 4HourihaneBooked at 45mins
- 8Bird
- 11Mendez-LaingSubstituted forDobbinat 83′minutes
- 38KnightSubstituted forThompsonat 89′minutes
- 7BarkhuizenSubstituted forSpringettat 75′minutes
- 10McGoldrickSubstituted forCollinsat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Collins
- 16Thompson
- 18Dobbin
- 19Stearman
- 21Loach
- 22Springett
- 34Rooney
Bolton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 19Trafford
- 18Toal
- 15Aimson
- 6JohnstonBooked at 16mins
- 21Bradley
- 16Morley
- 22Dempsey
- 27WilliamsSubstituted forSadlierat 87′minutes
- 20LeeSubstituted forShoretireat 63′minutes
- 10Charles
- 11N’LunduluSubstituted forKachungaat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Jones
- 4Williams
- 5Almeida Santos
- 7Sadlier
- 8Sheehan
- 17Shoretire
- 24Kachunga
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 30,004
Live Text
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Match ends, Derby County 2, Bolton Wanderers 1.
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Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Bolton Wanderers 1.
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Goal! Derby County 2, Bolton Wanderers 1. Kieran Sadlier (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dion Charles.
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Foul by Elias Kachunga (Bolton Wanderers).
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Haydon Roberts (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Derby County. Liam Thompson replaces Jason Knight.
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Corner, Derby County. Conceded by George Johnston.
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Substitution, Bolton Wanderers. Kieran Sadlier replaces Randell Williams.
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Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Eoin Toal.
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Attempt blocked. Kyle Dempsey (Bolton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Hand ball by James Collins (Derby County).
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Substitution, Derby County. Lewis Dobbin replaces Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
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Randell Williams (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Korey Smith (Derby County).
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Kyle Dempsey (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Derby County).
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Attempt missed. Haydon Roberts (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Conor Bradley (Bolton Wanderers).
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James Collins (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers).
