Steve Davies scored two second-half goals as Derby fought back to hit Blackpool's play-off hopes.

Tom Ince put the visitors ahead from Stephen Crainey's cross with just over a minute gone.

But Davies drove in a free-kick from outside the area to pull the Rams level six minutes after the interval.

He scored a second with a header from a free-kick from namesake Ben as fifth-placed Blackpool suffered a second loss in four games.

Ian Holloway's side, who are looking for an immediate return to the Premier League, have now played more games than the four teams below them, who each have at least one game in hand.

The Seasiders took a big step towards what would have been a fourth straight away win in the league when Ince scored in the second minute.

Brett Ormerod played in Crainey down the left and his cross deflected into the path of Ince, who drove in for a fourth goal in three games.

Davies, making just a second start after returning from a fractured skull, found the top corner with a free-kick just after the break, before his header took his tally to eight for the season.

Rams goalkeeper Frank Fielding pulled off a fine stop from Blackpool's Alex Baptiste as Nigel Clough's team hung on to move up to 14th in the Championship.

Derby coach Andy Garner: "(Davies had a) horrific injury and you've got to be brave when you've got plates in your head. This shows he's determined and strong enough to deal with that and he's proved that in the last couple of games.

"He was absolutely magnificent and it's great to have him back. It's hard to believe how many injuries he's had for a 24-year-old but there's no doubt he's a threat and he does score goals.

"He's in the right place at the right time and sometimes you get in the right area like he did and he finished it brilliantly."

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway: "We started (the second-half) really sluggish. We looked like a diesel rather than a Rolls-Royce but that's what happens at this level.

"Set pieces are absolutely vital. They scored from two, one bloke has a free header (Steve Davies) and I'm very proud of that boy for getting over what happened to him but we have to learn how to deal with those things.

"I think my lads might have moaned to the referee too much at times and that's not good so we have got a lot to learn."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Derby County

  • 01 Fielding
  • 03 Roberts Booked
  • 05 Barker
  • 06 Shackell
  • 04 Bryson
  • 18 B Davies
  • 19 Carroll (Tyson - 68' )
  • 23 Hendrick
  • 32 Green
  • 07 S Davies (Buxton - 89' )
  • 21 Robinson

Substitutes

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 17 Buxton
  • 09 Tyson
  • 14 Doyle
  • 25 Ball

Blackpool

  • 01 Gilks
  • 03 Crainey
  • 05 Eardley Booked
  • 15 Baptiste
  • 37 Wilson
  • 04 Southern
  • 16 Ferguson
  • 09 K Phillips (LuaLua - 87' )
  • 10 Ormerod (M Phillips - 54' )
  • 35 Bednar (Taylor-Fletcher - 59' )
  • 36 Ince

Substitutes

  • 20 Cathcart
  • 14 Sylvestre
  • 23 M Phillips
  • 12 Taylor-Fletcher
  • 38 LuaLua
Ref: Boyeson
Att: 26,320

Match Stats

Shots

13 13

On target

8 9

Corners

4 8

Fouls

9 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:14 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +1:31

Thomas Ince challenges Jeff Hendrick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

89:50

Inswinging corner taken by Thomas Ince from the right by-line played to the near post, Theo Robinson makes a clearance. Thomas Ince decides to take the corner short.

88:12 Substitution

Substitution Steve Davies leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Buxton.

88:12

Steve Davies challenges Alex Baptiste unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

87:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Alex Baptiste on Theo Robinson. Indirect free kick taken by Gareth Roberts.

86:55 Substitution

Substitution Lomana Tresor LuaLua on for Kevin Phillips.

86:40

Nathan Tyson produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.

83:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Phillips on Paul Green. Frank Fielding restarts play with the free kick.

82:24

Steve Davies takes a shot. Save made by Matthew Gilks.

81:49

Shot from outside the box by Steve Davies misses to the left of the goal.

81:49

Steve Davies produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

80:00

Kevin Phillips takes a shot. Save by Frank Fielding. Kevin Phillips has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

79:03

Alex Baptiste takes a shot. Save by Frank Fielding. Corner taken by Matt Phillips from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Paul Green.

77:15

Neal Eardley sends in a cross, clearance made by Jason Shackell.

76:06

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Green by Thomas Ince. Indirect free kick taken by Frank Fielding.

74:47

Assist on the goal came from Ben Davies.

74:47 Goal scored

Goal - Steve Davies - Derby 2 - 1 Blackpool Steve Davies grabs a headed goal from close range. Derby 2-1 Blackpool.

74:17

Neal Eardley concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Tyson. The ball is delivered by Ben Davies,

71:48

Craig Bryson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Barry Ferguson. Danny Wilson takes the indirect free kick.

71:00

Neal Eardley delivers the ball.

70:05

Nathan Tyson challenges Alex Baptiste unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

69:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Taylor-Fletcher on Jason Shackell. Free kick taken by Frank Fielding.

69:02

Steve Davies takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks.

67:54 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Tyson replaces Tom Carroll.

67:04

Theo Robinson takes a shot. Clearance by Neal Eardley. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Ben Davies, clearance by Alex Baptiste.

64:01

A cross is delivered by Matt Phillips.

63:43

Thomas Ince takes a shot. Blocked by Gareth Roberts.

63:05

Theo Robinson takes a shot. Clearance made by Alex Baptiste. Corner from right by-line taken by Ben Davies.

62:15

Kevin Phillips takes a shot. Save by Frank Fielding. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Thomas Ince played to the near post, Gareth Roberts manages to make a clearance.

60:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Taylor-Fletcher on Ben Davies. Free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

59:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Theo Robinson on Alex Baptiste. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

58:22 Substitution

Substitution Gary Taylor-Fletcher replaces Roman Bednar.

58:22

Theo Robinson is ruled offside. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

57:11

Foul by Roman Bednar on Craig Bryson, free kick awarded. Paul Green restarts play with the free kick.

53:51 Substitution

Substitution Matt Phillips on for Brett Ormerod.

53:20

Tom Carroll crosses the ball.

51:40

Unfair challenge on Thomas Ince by Paul Green results in a free kick. The ball is sent over by Neal Eardley, Roman Bednar has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

50:31

Assist by Theo Robinson.

50:31 Goal scored

Goal - Steve Davies - Derby 1 - 1 Blackpool Steve Davies finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 1-1 Blackpool.

49:32

Danny Wilson challenges Theo Robinson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

47:59

Jason Shackell delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance by Danny Wilson. Craig Bryson has an effort at goal. Danny Wilson gets a block in.

47:59 Booking

Booking Booking for Neal Eardley for unsporting behaviour.

47:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Neal Eardley on Ben Davies.

45:13

Steve Davies takes a shot. Save by Matthew Gilks.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +1:29 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:55

The ball is crossed by Ben Davies, Header from close range by Steve Davies misses to the right of the goal.

40:30

Kevin Phillips takes a shot. Blocked by Jason Shackell. Thomas Ince takes the inswinging corner, Theo Robinson makes a clearance. Corner taken by Thomas Ince from the right by-line, Danny Wilson has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the target.

37:32

Corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince from the right by-line, Shaun Barker makes a clearance.

36:39

Kevin Phillips takes a shot. Jason Shackell gets a block in.

35:30

Gareth Roberts crosses the ball.

35:02

Foul by Neal Eardley on Ben Davies, free kick awarded. Jason Shackell takes the indirect free kick.

31:55

Ben Davies takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.

31:42

Tom Carroll delivers the ball, clearance by Danny Wilson.

30:26

Neal Eardley challenges Ben Davies unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ben Davies, Danny Wilson makes a clearance.

30:26

Unfair challenge on Ben Davies by Neal Eardley results in a free kick. Ben Davies restarts play with the free kick.

28:49

Corner taken by Ben Davies, Alex Baptiste makes a clearance.

26:19

A cross is delivered by Paul Green, Close range shot by Theo Robinson misses to the left of the target.

25:26

Craig Bryson fouled by Barry Ferguson, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Jason Shackell.

21:52

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Stephen Crainey, clearance by Shaun Barker.

21:52 Booking

Booking Booking for Gareth Roberts.

21:48

Unfair challenge on Brett Ormerod by Gareth Roberts results in a free kick.

20:03

Ben Davies fouled by Thomas Ince, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Davies crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Keith Southern.

19:05

Thomas Ince takes a shot. Frank Fielding makes a save. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Thomas Ince played to the near post, clearance made by Gareth Roberts.

15:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Roberts on Thomas Ince. Matthew Gilks takes the indirect free kick.

15:08

The ball is delivered by Gareth Roberts, clearance made by Alex Baptiste.

12:17

The offside flag is raised against Roman Bednar. Frank Fielding takes the free kick.

10:48

Brett Ormerod gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Bryson. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Bryson. Unfair challenge on Alex Baptiste by Steve Davies results in a free kick. Matthew Gilks restarts play with the free kick.

8:30

Shot by Theo Robinson from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

7:10

Neal Eardley concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Carroll. Steve Davies takes the indirect free kick.

3:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Roman Bednar by Shaun Barker. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Neal Eardley, blocked by Shaun Barker.

1:59

Stephen Crainey provided the assist for the goal.

1:59 Goal scored

Goal - Thomas Ince - Derby 0 - 1 Blackpool A goal is scored by Thomas Ince from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Derby 0-1 Blackpool.

0:48

Barry Ferguson has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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