Krystian Bielik’s instinctive finish provided Wayne Rooney with a first win since becoming permanent Derby manager and some rare positivity for those involved at Pride Park.
Derby are a club currently clouded by uncertainty: players and staff went unpaid last month, triggering a transfer embargo and the takeover deal ‘near completion’ for two months is on the verge of collapse.
However, things took a turn for the better on the field when they added the scalp of promotion-chasing Bournemouth to previous ones of the Championship’s top two Norwich and Swansea.
‘It’s difficult for the players, of course, and I can’t go into the transfer window at the minute so the quicker they get paid the quicker we can move on,’ Rooney said.
‘We hope the right people make the right decisions and get things done for us.’
Bloodied in an aerial challenge with Jefferson Lerma earlier in the contest, Polish midfielder Bielik emerged in un-numbered shirt to prod in the decisive goal just after the half-hour, reacting first after Lloyd Kelly blocked his initial header.
Bournemouth had chances at either end of the game but top scorer Dominic Solanke failed to turn in from six yards with the goal at his mercy and Kelle Roos produced a spectacular save to claw out Kelly’s header.
‘We are a bit like Liverpool, I suppose,’ said Jason Tindall, referring to his side scoring just five times in the past seven matches.
A frantic finale saw ex-England midfielder Jack Wilshere make a 12-minute debut from the bench but back-to-back defeats leave his new club four points off the automatic promotion places.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com