Derby 1-0 Stevenage: Match Report by Sam Cretton for Nub News at Pride Park on Saturday

A late Louie Sibley goal makes all the difference at Pride Park on Saturday as Derby picked up all three points. 

For the first time in the club's history Stevenage travelled to Pride Park hoping for a big result against promotion chasers Derby. 27,055 supporters filled the stadium with more than 1,000 of them situated in the corner supporting Steve Evans side.  

Evans made three changes from Tuesday's disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol Rovers with Luther James-Wildin, Louis Thompson coming back into the side, with Taye Ashby Hammond returning in goal. 

The first real chance of the game fell to Stevenage, as a long throw into the box found the head of Carl Piergianni who flicked it onto Jamie Reid, but his eventual effort landed the wrong side of the post. 

Both sets of supporters took turns singing and chanting as the atmosphere inside Pride Park was electric throughout the game as both sides of players needed that extra lift in order to find the opening goal.  

The away side were holding their own during the first half as they continued to work the ball well down both flanks, as Jordan Roberts kept firing dangerous balls into the box - but the Rams defence held firm. 

Stevenage kept pushing for the opener, as the corners kept coming dangerously into the box from Jake Forster Caskey. In the 31st minute Curtis Nelson nearly knocked the ball into his own goal, but was only denied by a great goal line clearance. 

Boro pushed on and on in order to get into the lead and five minutes later a golden opportunity arose for Jordan Roberts whose shot from six yards out stung the hands of Joe Wildsmith in the Derby net. 

Despite the score still being 0-0 at the half time mark, the away side would be proud of their efforts, as they were the team with the better chances and overall playing the better football. 

The second half began with neither of the sides making a change at the break as both looked to open the scoring.  

Stevenage continued to stay strong defensively as Derby upped the pressure towards the last 30 minutes of the game, but were limited to very few clear cut chances as Boro looked to hold onto a very important point. 

Then came Stevenage's best chance of the second half with 15 minutes to go, when Jamie Reid's powerful near post shot was saved again by Wildsmith, as the Boro pushed to find the winner.  

Derby then thought that they had found the opener when a curling shot from Max Bird on the left hand side looked to be heading in, only be equally matched by a brilliant save from Ashby-Hammond.  

As we headed towards the last minute of normal time a lovely diagonal ball from Korey Smith found the feet of Nathaniel Mandez Lang from 70 yards, as his ball into the box was met perfectly by Sibley who fired the hosts in front.  

Another late goal conceded by Stevenage who had battled tirelessly in both defence and attack, meant the travelling away side left frustrated again.  

Four minutes of added time were indicated at the end of the second half but it wasn't enough time for the Boro to carve out any real chances, as Derby held on for a very important three points in their push for promotion.  

Overall it was a performance to be proud of for Evans men, as they had held a very good Derby side for the majority of the game.

This was recognised by those 1,042 travelling supporters in the away end, but ultimately it was more points lost - which may be costly come end of the season. 

By Sam Cretton at Pride Park for Nub News

See Nub News on Saturday for more from Sam on Stevenage vs Wycombe Wanderers