Mason Mount nets again as Derby beat Preston

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Mason Mount scored his third goal of the campaign as Derby beat Preston 2-0 to record their best start for seven seasons.

The on-loan Chelsea midfielder struck with a low shot before Richard Keogh headed in a corner with goalkeeper Declan Rudd at fault for both.

Callum Robinson wasted a chance to put Preston ahead but the visitors lacked a cutting edge as Derby boss Frank Lampard celebrated a second home win in five days.

Preston made four changes after the midweek defeat at Norwich while Derby made only one to the team that beat Ipswich with Joe Ledley starting in place of the injured George Evans.

Derby began at a good tempo but the first opening fell to Preston in the 10th minute when Josh Harrop turned inside and found Lukas Nmecha but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at Scott Carson.

The play immediately switched to the other end when Jayden Bogle made a strong run down the right and set up Mason Bennett for a shot that struck team-mate Mount and looped over the bar.

Another quick break saw Tom Lawrence surge through the middle but Preston had a great chance in the 29th minute when Graham Burke ran in behind and cut the ball back to Robinson who hit Carson with a low shot from 12 yards.

Derby made a change a minute later when Bogle, who had fallen awkwardly, was replaced by Andre Wisdom but they went ahead in the 38th minute with former Preston striker David Nugent involved in the goal.

Nugent played the ball inside to Mount who checked before shooting from just inside the area and the ball squirmed under Rudd.

Preston had played well without testing Carson enough but they broke swiftly in the 47th minute with Burke curling a shot narrowly wide.

Derby brought off Ledley and had a chance in the 50th minute when Nugent slipped a pass to Bennett but Rudd saved and Nugent saw a 20-yard shot deflected behind.

Preston responded with a free-kick that was headed back for Burke to volley wide and Nmecha made a strong run that was halted on the edge of the box.

Nmecha was replaced along with Burke as Preston made a double change in the 68th minute but Derby scored again 10 minutes later with question marks over Rudd.

Mount’s corner to the back post was headed down by Keogh and Rudd allowed the ball to squeeze past him.

Nugent almost scored against his old club for the first time in stoppage time with a long-range shot that sailed just over.