Alex Scott's second goal of the season was enough to earn Bristol City a third home win in four games
Alex Scott's first-half strike gave Bristol City a narrow Championship win and deepened the problems for rock-bottom Derby.
City hit the front with the game's first shot when teenager Scott lashed in a finish after the ball broke to him on the edge of the box.
Chris Martin and Antoine Semenyo wasted chances to double the lead as the Robins bossed the first half.
The Rams improved after the break, but Luke Plange's 87th-minute shot straight at Robins goalkeeper Daniel Bentley was their only attempt on target.
- Relive Saturday's EFL action
Having failed to win their opening seven league home matches of the season, City have now won three of their past four at Ashton Gate, and did so with few scares against a toothless Derby.
The match was preceded by a minute's applause for former Robins coach John Sillett, but there was little else for the supporters to clap in a cagey opening until 18-year-old Scott broke the deadlock.
The hosts had a big chance to double their lead midway through the first half when Callum O'Dowda beat the offside trap and squared for Martin who dragged his shot wide, while Semenyo's low drive forced Derby goalkeeper Ryan Allsop into action.
Wayne Rooney's side, who are without an away win since 18 August and have scored just five times on the road this season, bossed first-half possession, but failed to trouble home goalkeeper Bentley.
The visitors struggled to turn pressure into chances yet almost snatched a stoppage-time equaliser when Ravel Morrison steered a bouncing ball narrowly wide.
Derby have won just one of their past 11 games in the league and remain 20 points from safety, while City's third clean sheet of the season helped them climb to 17th.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBristol City
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Bentley26Vyner22Kalas5Atkinson36Scott15Bakinson42Massengo11O'Dowda14Weimann9Martin18Semenyo
- 1Bentley26Vyner22KalasBooked at 45mins5Atkinson36Scott15BakinsonBooked at 39minsSubstituted forJamesat 67'minutes42Massengo11O'DowdaSubstituted forPringat 71'minutesBooked at 80mins14Weimann9Martin18SemenyoSubstituted forWellsat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Simpson3Dasilva6James12O'Leary16Pring21Wells38Benarous
Derby
Formation 4-3-3
31Allsop2Byrne6Jagielka33Davies3Forsyth42Thompson8Bird4Shinnie36Ebosele10Lawrence38Knight
- 31Allsop2Byrne6Jagielka33Davies3ForsythBooked at 40minsSubstituted forMorrisonat 72'minutes42ThompsonSubstituted forPlangeat 45'minutes8Bird4Shinnie36Ebosele10Lawrence38KnightBooked at 39minsSubstituted forKazim-Richardsat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Józwiak11Morrison13Kazim-Richards16Stearman21Roos43Williams48Plange
Referee:Graham ScottAttendance:18,732Match StatsHome TeamBristol CityAway TeamDerbyPossessionHome32%Away68%ShotsHome7Away9Shots on TargetHome2Away1CornersHome3Away3FoulsHome10Away10Live TextPost update
Match ends, Bristol City 1, Derby County 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 1, Derby County 0.
90'+4'Post update
Attempt missed. Ravel Morrison (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
90'Post update
Curtis Davies (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'Post update
Foul by Nahki Wells (Bristol City).
89'Post update
Foul by Festy Ebosele (Derby County).
89'Post update
Cameron Pring (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'Post update
Attempt blocked. Ravel Morrison (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Lawrence.
87'Post update
Attempt saved. Luke Plange (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Max Bird.
87'Post update
Festy Ebosele (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'Post update
Foul by Matty James (Bristol City).
82'Post update
Offside, Bristol City. Chris Martin tries a through ball, but Andreas Weimann is caught offside.
82'Post update
Foul by Luke Plange (Derby County).
82'Post update
Alex Scott (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'Post update
Foul by Curtis Davies (Derby County).
81'Post update
Cameron Pring (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'Booking
Cameron Pring (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
80'Post update
Festy Ebosele (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
80'Post update
Foul by Cameron Pring (Bristol City).
78'Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Curtis Davies.
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com