Derby County 2-0 Barnsley: Ravel Morrison inspires priceless Rams win

Ravel Morrison and Tom Lawrence combined to great effect for the Rams in attack

Midfielder Ravel Morrison inspired Derby County to a priceless Championship 'six-pointer' victory over fellow strugglers Barnsley that revives their survival hopes after three games without a win.

After Luke Plange had fired wide when well placed, the hosts did go in front when Morrison finished off a beautifully worked Rams move before the break, having linked up with Plange in the build-up.

The 29-year-old also hit the woodwork in the opening period, while Ryan Allsopp had to be alert at the other end when Tykes forward Carlton Morris snapped a shot that forced him into a save.

Derby were two goals up when Morrison claimed his second just a couple of minutes after the interval, firing in the rebound after captain Tom Lawrence shook the crossbar.

It was enough to see off a Tykes side who are a point and a place below their victors and a result that dents their recent upturn in form, which had seen them take three wins from four in the league.

With all the off-field concerns relating to Derby's financial and ownership status amid protracted takeover talks, things had not been going right on the pitch for boss Wayne Rooney - but Morrison proved an unlikely hero with his display.

The former Manchester United and West Ham playmaker had not scored in the league since netting in QPR's 5-2 win over Nottingham Forest in April 2014, but his double here was a welcome lift - as he became the first Rams player to score since Louie Sibley's last-minute winner against Peterborough last month.

Rams fans, who made up the best part of the 25,891 at Pride Park, will have been glad to get this victory, particularly with promotion chasers Bournemouth, Blackburn and Coventry next up.

Poya Asbaghi's Barnsley had few chances, the best of which came to Morris and midfielder Amine Bassi, having been unable to back up their impressive display at home to Middlesbrough in midweek.

Their forthcoming fixture list, which includes in-form Fulham and Sheffield United, will be a concern as they remain six points clear of safety with two games in hand on the Rams.

Derby assistant boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Derby:

"I'm delighted with the players and so is Wayne [Rooney], yes we've got young players and we're working hard but some of the football we played today was absolutely magnificent.

"I felt as a coaching staff we were unlucky [of late], we went away to Luton and were in the game, they're in a great run of form and we stayed in the game with them.

"Then against Cardiff we dominated the game and didn't take the chances, but we've really worked on that in the last couple of days and spoken about it.

"We scored two magnificent goals and I think the fans really enjoyed it."

Barnsley boss Poya Asbaghi told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Of course we're all really disappointed and we know the importance of this game. Over the 90 minutes we don't end up performing like we have in recent games. We had moments but not over the 90.

"We didn't move the ball fast enough, we have been fast in decision making and moving the ball in recent games, but we weren't technically or mentally fast enough today. The second goal is an example of that where we lost the ball and it's two-nil.

"It's a tough game, we played against a team just like us that really knew the importance of the game with their fans at home, they've not lost many games at home. To be able to follow up our recent results with a good result we had to be better at stopping them moving the ball and we had to do that ourselves also."