Derby County 2-1 Fulham: Rams maintain survival hopes and make Fulham wait on promotion
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Tosin Adarabioyo got the final touch as he diverted the ball into his own net for Derby's winner
Derby County brought an abrupt halt to Fulham's Premier League promotion party as they came from behind to claim a crucial victory that kept their own faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
Fulham were on track for the win that would have secured an immediate top-flight return with five games to spare thanks to Fabio Carvalho's well-taken opener.
But 19-year-old Luke Plange brought the hosts level five minutes into the second period before Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo turned Tom Lawrence's cross-shot into his own net.
Realistically, the result is unlikely to change the narrative of the campaign given Fulham still only require three points for promotion and a single defeat in the Rams' final four games will leave Reading requiring just a point to send Derby down.
But, in front of prospective new owner Chris Kirchner, the result underlined the fight that remains in a club that should, over the next couple of weeks, provide manager Wayne Rooney with some much-needed stability to build for the future.
Successive defeats for the first time this season is a major disappointment for Fulham - and this loss will hurt because for 45 minutes it looked so unlikely.
Prospective new Derby owner Chris Kirchner was among the 23,773-strong crowd at Pride Park
Without ever being at their best, Marco Silva's men had too much for their hosts.
Carvalho's finish at the end of a one-two with Bobby Decordova-Reid showed why Jurgen Klopp is keen to get the Portuguese youngster to Liverpool, and he would have had two but for Ryan Allsop's excellent save.
Allsop denied 38-goal Aleksandar Mitrovic with a flying save after half-time and the Serb had a goal disallowed for offside as he tucked home the rebound to a Carvalho effort that struck the base of a post.
By that point, Derby had equalised when Plange finished off a flowing move that also included home-grown pair Liam Thompson and Lee Buchanan.
There was an element of fortune about Derby's winner but Plange deserves credit for putting Tosin under pressure.
In a frenetic finale, Malcolm Ebiowei tested Marek Rodak with a long-range drive before Harrison Reid had an injury-time shot deflected over as Derby remained defiant to secure a memorable triumph.
Derby County manager Wayne Rooney:
"We knew it would be a tough game, but I believed we would win.
"When I saw Reading score in the last minute (to win at Sheffield United), you are worried young players were watching that and it would take energy out of them.
"But I felt at half-time if we had more belief, we would win. The character of the players is incredible to go out and get the two goals.
"We pressed a bit higher and they really struggled with that. Liam Thompson was magnificent. It was a must-win, thankfully we have done that.
"I want my team to be a reflection of myself. I can see in the players eyes, at half-time in many games this season, they look a bit down.
"The mentality is the thing I am most proud of. That is the hardest thing to teach.
"But we have to change the away form if we are to have a chance of staying up. It will be a tough game (at QPR), but we have to win."
Fulham manager Marco Silva:
"Our first-half was good and in the second-half, we expected a reaction and it was important for us to control the game and we made a mistake.
"We had chances to win. We are at the top of this league for a reason but we lost our focus. We have to improve.
"Back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, that is not a matter of focus. Tonight we needed to be more aggressive. We had to stop attacks with tactical fouls.
"We knew before the match it would be emotional. We knew what would happen with three points. Derby's pressure is much tougher. Our pressure is the nicest pressure.
"But if we want to play in the Premier League, we have to deal with pressure."