Sam Schmodics’ 100th league goal gave Derby a narrow 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Portsmouth, keeping them firmly in contention for the Championship play-offs.
Ipswich loanee Schmodics, who also played for Colchester, Blackburn, Peterborough and Bristol City, scored the only goal of the match in the eighth minute after being given space in the penalty area.
This means the Rams have ended their away losing streak with three points and sit just three points out of the top six.
For Portsmouth, it was their first four consecutive defeats at Fratton Park since the 2013/14 season, and they have failed to win a derby in 12 attempts, leaving them languishing just one point above the drop zone.
Sam Schmodics scores the derby winning goal at Fratton Park.
Derby scored with their first chance of the match, as Szmodics smashed the ball in from the center of the penalty area.
Derry Markin’s corner was half-cleared by Jacob Brown, but Szmodics controlled it to score Rams’ second goal, with Keith Downing celebrating on the touchline in place of the suspended John Eustace.
In the 16th minute, Patrick Agyemang got the better of Regan Poole and brought on Ben Brereton-Diaz, but he was unable to stop Nicolas Schmidt, almost doubling the lead.
Pompey, who have lost three times at home, struggled to find a consistent rhythm in the match, but dominated in the first half with their number of shots.
Milenic Alli’s shot had to be saved at the near post, and Zach Swanson and Gustavo Caballero both missed long-range shots, but Swanson saw his shot deflect into the side netting.
Striker Brown gave Derby’s third-choice goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell his most poignant moment with a drill shot, converting it with his second effort.
However, the quality of the match was on the visitors’ side and their advantage should have doubled before the break.
The lively Agyeman broke down the left flank, outmaneuvered his opponents and smashed a shot on target. Schmidt was only able to hit the ball against the post, and Schmodic slipped as he tried to hammer it home.
Caballero raced to the front of the opponent’s goal and forced a smart save from O’Donnell, but the home fans continued to boo at half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Ebou Adams missing a shot wide against his old club and Swanson’s free kick deflected over the goal line by Markin.
However, Derby’s best chance came again when Schmodics hit the crossbar with a sensational free-kick from 20 yards.
Brown latched on to the header and Alli dragged it wide as it slid towards the near post as Pompey continued to pile up the number of shots, but to no avail.
In the end, they had a season-high 27 shots, but only nine were on target.
managers
John Mousinho of Portsmouth:
“I thought we controlled the game and got into really good territory, but we’ll look back at the lack of quality.
“We’re not quite there yet and when we put the ball in the box we could have kicked it into the keeper’s hands or gone for a goal kick. It was quite a frustrating night for us.
“We have to solve that. We have that quality across the front line, but it’s not working perfectly.
“There is no need to panic, but there is a need to show a sense of urgency at this time.
“We have one point from five games but we are out of the relegation zone with one game to spare. We are not in the final stages. We just have to find a way to win at the weekend.”
“We have some big games coming up, something has to change and the important thing is to put the ball in the back of the net.
“Confidence may be low, but I don’t see it that way. We are doing the difficult parts and I don’t see why the scores are deserting us.
“Relegation is a fear shared between the fans and us. The message is to stick with us.”
John Eustace of Derby:
“We’re fighting for everything and sometimes it’s not pretty. We have to find a way to win.
“To come here on Monday in difficult conditions and know what was coming from Portsmouth… I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from our players to face it and always look like a threat with turnovers.
“There are eight games left and we are eighth. It’s important to take each game as it comes. It’s important to build and grow as a club.”
“I want to help get this football back to what it should be.
“We’re not worried about other teams. All that matters is us and what we can control.”
